Supplying the locked-down nation with its five-a-day, Port of Dover’s Refrigerated Cargo Terminal (RCT) at Western Docks is boosting fruit and vegetable imports thanks to a commercial partnership with property specialist DMA Group.
Created to meet year-round consumer demand for ‘out of season’ produce, DMA’s experts advised on the latest temperature-controlled chiller technology to optimise freshness. To house 25 percent of the UK’s entire banana imports, along with mangoes, melons and pineapples sailing into dock (based on 2019 figures), DMA installed eight industrial blast chillers specifically designed to sustain the exacting temperatures and environments.
The impressive 9,600 sqm cold storage facility will become central to Dover’s handling of future cargo demands. Five years in the making as part of the Dover Western Docks Revival (DWDR), delays to works would be catastrophic – even in a pandemic. Due to quickfire planning between Port of Dover and its engineering partner DMA Group, works continued at full speed over the spring and summer, completing on time and to budget.
Steve McGregor, Group MD at DMA Group, said: “DMA is honoured to be involved in such a momentous move for the UK cargo business. We are especially thrilled by the many new job opportunities it’s creating.”
This momentous project demanded the highest operational commitment, performance, and collaboration from DMA’s onsite team.
McGregor continued: “The pandemic has seen niche industry players play a significant and growing role in the delivery of major infrastructure projects. As a smaller player right now, DMA is fortunate to be more agile, flexing resources and timescales to make buildings work.”
