Solent Stevedores is a multi-award winning private specialist port operator working throughout the UK, Channel Islands, and Singapore.

The company operates long term contractual activities in the Port of Southampton, the River Thames, DP World London Gateway, the Port of St Helier in Jersey and the Port of Immingham.

Our highly skilled, motivated and flexible workforce strives to deliver a continuous high level of service across a wide range of port related activity.

About us

Operating from 13 terminals, handling a diverse range of commodities and with a permanent workforce in excess of 180 personnel, Solent Stevedores is a market leader in the provision of Port services in the UK

Our highly skilled and flexible workforce strives to deliver customer service excellence always, across highly diversified and responsive operations. We have an annual turnover over £30 million with expertise in Rail, Cruise Ships, Fresh Produce and Bulk Cargo.

Our business has grown from a single terminal at The Port of Southampton in 2000, to 13 terminals in 2019. Our team includes 180 full time staff across Dursley, Southampton, London Gateway, Tate & Lyle Sugars, Immingham, Jersey and Singapore.

In 2007 Solent Stevedores entered a 20 year agreement with Associated British Ports (ABP), owners of the Port of Southampton, to expand the multi-user bulk terminal and enhance facilities with a joint investment of £7m. The terminal is rail linked and there is a minimum of 11.7m of water available alongside at all times to accommodate a wide range of vessels - up to approximately 50,000 dwt.

gypsum train southampton
gypsum train southampton

Solent Stevedores operates with no restrictions according to customers' requirements and together with ABP has developed a significant increase in trade. Expansion to our operations in Southampton incorporates multiple extensions to the bulks terminal and also development into new areas including Cruise Vessel Support, the upgrade and operations of the temperature-controlled Fruit Terminal and the new Rail Freight Terminal.

OUR JOURNEY

1997

Consolidated Salt Ltd established at Sharpness docks in Gloucestershire handling salt products. The company is renamed Cullen Group in 2002 - the parent company of Solent Stevedores

solent stevedores bulk cargo 2000 southampton

2000

Solent Stevedores commences operations with a bulk cargo handling terminal at the Port of Southampton. The company continues to expand by diversifying its operational capabilities into new markets.

solent stevedores partner with Tate & Lyle Sugars at Silvertown refinery, London

2008

Solent Stevedores secures its first operations outside the Port of Southampton, partnering with Tate & Lyle Sugars at Silvertown and commences to provide a bespoke sub-contracted stevedoring solution

solent stevedores wins tender to provide turnaround services to Carnival Cruise Ships at the Port of Southampton

2010

Solent Stevedores is successful at tender to provide Cruise Vessel Support to Carnival Cruise Ships at the UK’s largest cruise terminal. Solent Stevedores enters a new market, providing tunaround services to cruise ships visiting the Port of Southampton.

solent stevedores wins 9 year contract at the Ports of Jersey - image credit: Greg England

2012

Solent Stevedores makes the first step outside the UK mainland with a nine-year contract at the Port of Jersey. Solent Stevedores is the exclusive Terminal Operator at the Port of Jersey, operating two terminals.

2013

Solent Stevedores secures investment to fully modernise the Fresh Produce Terminal at Southampton. The 14,500 sqm fully temperature-controlled facility is able to handle palletised traffic from reefer ships, containers & road trailers

2015

Solent Stevedores enters the Port of Immingham offering bulk cargo handling solutions. With a 10 year lease position SSL commences operation of a fully enclosed warehouse, with the capability to handle a variety of cementitious products

solent stevedores expands operations to the Port of Immingham

2016

Solent Stevedores begins the loading and unloading of cargo trains at the Port of Southampton.

container yard london gateway

2017

Solent Stevedores secures a 20 year lease for the Rail Terminal at the Port of Southampton.The terminal offers General & Project Cargo with Intermodal Container Handling services.

image courtesy of ABP

2018

Solent Stevedores opens new off-dock empty container yard at London Gateway port.

Solent Stevedores acquires Nam Seng Cargo and starts providing Cruise services at Marina Bay Cruise Centre and Singapore Cruise, Singapore.

image courtesy of Marina Bay Cruise Centtre, Singapore

OUR TEAM

Our award-winning team operates from 13 terminals across Southampton, Immingham, Silvertown London, DP World London Gateway, Jersey and Singapore.

Our Board

Stuart Cullen

Stuart Cullen
Executive Chairman

Fiona Robson

Fiona Robson
Managing Director

Clive Thomas

Clive Thomas
Commercial Director

Jon Williams

Jon Williams
Finance Director
 

Zak McElvenny

Zak McElvenny
Compliance Director

Glen Mourant

Glen Mourant
Operations Director
Jersey

Hans Uiterdijk

Hans Uiterdijk
Operations Director
Saint Malo Stevedores

Head Office

Vicki Lane

Vicki Lane
HR Manager

Raegan Robson

Raegan Robson
Finance Manager

Port of Southampton

Ray Facey

Ray Facey
Commercial Manager

Doug Webb

Doug Webb
Bulks Operations Manager

Perry Dack

Perry Dack
Cruise Operations Manager

Richard Powell

Richard Powell
Rail Operations Manager

Chris Jones

Chris Jones
Group Maintenance Manager

Ports of Jersey

Greg England

Greg England
Compliance/Administration Manager

Port of Immingham

Ian Roberts

Ian Roberts
Operations Manager

Silvertown, London

Dan Smith

Dan Smith
Operations Manager

London Gateway

Mike Mustoe

Mike Mustoe
Operations Manager

Singapore

Benjamin Chau

Benjamin Chau
Operations Manager

Awards

We are proud of our strict standards, working procedures and commitment to excellent customer service always, and honoured to have been shortlisted by the IBJ Awards every year since winning the IBJ Customer Service Award in 2011.

Our IBJ Awards include;

Environmental Protection Award winner 2013
Customer Care Award winner 2011 & 2016
People Development Award winner 2018

Solent Stevedores have won four IBJ awards since 2011

Partners

TASCC scheme certified

Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops

TASCC was developed because farmers and end users wanted to be sure that crops of grain, oilseeds and pulses were treated responsibly once they left the farm. The scheme is audited and certified by an independent certification body, in accordance with the internationally recognised standard EN45011.

TASCC is recognised within the food industry as being essential to maintaining traceability of assured combinable crops after they have left the farm. The Scheme comprises a Scheme Manual and four codes of practice (Storage, Haulage, Merchants and Testing Facilities). The Storage Scheme is operated to a joint scheme with the Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA) covering combinable crops and feed materials.

Visit the Agricultural Industries Confederation »

COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Solent Stevedores is committed to operating responsibly and minimising our environmental footprint. Many of our operations can only take place under strict licensing conditions granted by the Environment Agency. Unusually for a company of our size, we have a dedicated compliance team, headed by Zak McElvenny, who ensures that all of our operations are carried out responsibly and safely.

We are ISO14001 certificated for environmental management and are also stakeholders and active contributors to the Port of Southampton Clean Air Forum. Our commitment to the environment does not stop there, and Solent Stevedores is very much at the forefront of the industry; we are continually looking for opportunities to invest in the latest technology and equipment to reduce our emissions and impact on the environment.

still electric fork trucks cruise division southampton
electric fork trucks saves emissions at Port of Southampton Cruise Terminal

Electric fork trucks

In January 2019 we took delivery of 37 fully electric counter balance fork lift trucks, and also operate a fleet of PHEV maintenance vans in the Port of Southampton, reducing our carbon emissions across our Cruise Services division to almost zero. 

data analytics incentivises efficiency

Data driven efficiency

Furthermore, we have partnered and invested in new technology with the data analytics firm Dynamon, who have created an industry first dashboard system for our Container Terminal operations, incentivising our drivers to operate in the most efficient way possible. 

electric fork trucks sav emissions at Port of Southampton Cruise Terminal

Monitored emissions

At our bulks terminal in Southampton, we use the latest technology to monitor our noise, dust, and air quality emissions, along with infrared cameras to monitor hot spots during cargo operations. 

To find out more, please get in touch.

SYSTEMS

Solent Stevedores works to strict standards and procedures, as reflected by our Southampton operation ISO9001 Quality Management and ISO14001 Environmental Management certification.

ISO9001 accredited

ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. ISO 9001 certification ensures our quality management systems meet international standards.

View Certificate »

ISO14001 accredited

ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems

We manage our environmental aspects and impacts to ISO14001 standards, verified by world leader, SGS.

View Certificate »

POLICIES

Environmental, Quality and Health & Safety policies available on request.

To view our Privacy and Data Retention Policies in line with GDPR regulations - please visit Legal and Privacy »

Get In Touch
+44 (0)2380 725790