The barges will be able to carry 20 waste containers each, containing a total of 270 tonnes of residual waste.
Delivered from Newcastle-based shipyard A&P Tyne, and Belgian shipyard Meuse and Sambre, the new 20 box barges will ultimately replace the fleet currently operating from Cringle Dock in Battersea and Walbrook Wharf in the City of London.
Cory anticipates that the latest additions to its fleet will remove the equivalent of 11 refuse lorry journeys from the roads, “making London’s streets safer and cleaner”.
Cory’s director of logistics, Fran Comerford-Cole said “This year marks Cory’s 125th anniversary and river operations have been at the heart of the Business since the very beginning. These additions to our fleet will help us to secure our future on the Thames for many years to come.”
Thames investment programme
Cory’s Thames investment programme focuses on improving its river-based infrastructure, which includes the “modernisation” of its fleet.
The delivery of five barges means Cory has now taken delivery of six of the 35 barges being ordered, with the existing barges being repurposed or recycled.
The £800 million plans also include the development of the Riverside Energy Park next to its existing energy from waste (EfW) facility in Belvedere.
Fleet
In total, Cory currently operates a fleet of five tugs, with over 50 barges and 1,500 containers.
This fleet is used to transport residual waste from waste transfer stations along the River Thames to its Belvedere EfW plant.
Cory said that by using the Thames, it removes around 100,000 vehicle journeys from London’s roads each year.
Register for free to comment