A MULTI-MILLION pounds investment will see the Port of Rosyth deepened to enable larger ships to dock there following a deal with agricultural giant Cefetra Ltd.

The Scottish company is a major importer of grains and animal feed raw materials and the long-term agreement with Forth Ports will also see a new purpose-built terminal erected at the dock for its extensive range of products.

As a result of Cefetra’s expansion plans, Rosyth will become a deep water port capable of taking vessels carrying up to 50,000 tonnes of cargo and the main ‘Agri-hub’ in Scotland.

It's a seven figures spend from Forth Ports and a spokesperson said: “The recent investments and new activity at the Port of Rosyth will bring much more job security.

"Following the cessation of the freight ferry service recently there have been no job losses at the port and this reflects the capability of the multi skilled workforce that we have.”

Dunfermline and West Fife MP, Douglas Chapman, said: “This latest deal highlights Rosyth as being Scotland’s best-connected port.

“The additional investment to attract larger ships will support further bulk trade and, for me, the busier the port can become, the more likely the prospect of introducing a direct rail link into the quayside.

"Businesses looking to minimise their carbon footprint will undoubtedly welcome greener options of transporting goods than by road.”

Cefetra Ltd, which has an HQ in Glasgow, is the largest agricultural trading company in Scotland with an annual turnover in excess of £800m.

It dispatches 75,000-85,000 tonnes of raw materials to industry partners every week, with 500-550 lorry loads delivered every day.

Rosyth’s links to the motorway network make it ideally suited to supply Scotland and northern England by road. It also has advantages in short sea freight.

Andrew Mackay, managing director at Cefetra Ltd, said: “We are pleased to have been able to reach this agreement with Forth Ports and believe that the new Rosyth Agri-hub will enable us to continue to serve our valued customers.

"We expect to increase the efficiency of our supply chains, taking advantage of scale and location, to bring additional benefits to our customers and to Scottish agriculture.

“Our expectation is to develop an annual throughput in excess of 500,000 tonnes of agricultural products, worth more than £100m.”

Under the agreement Forth Ports will deepen the port and provide Cefetra with a purpose-built facility, increasing the storage capacity to around 100,000 tonnes.

Charles Hammond, chief executive officer of Forth Ports, said: “It’s great to have reached an agreement with Cefetra that will see us execute on another significant investment programme for a customer; reflecting our strategy of working with our customers to deliver supply chain solutions.

"The development reflects the port’s unrivalled logistics links as well as its excellent marine capability.

“We very much look forward to working with Cefetra, a long-standing group customer, to deliver this significant development, building on our overall activity within Scotland’s agricultural sector.”

Councillor Altany Craik, of Fife Council, said: “It once again demonstrates the unique set of assets we have on the Rosyth Waterfront, especially with its unrivalled location and excellent marine infrastructure.

"We are committed to working with the three main landowners, through our Invest in Fife team, in promoting the area’s capabilities with the Gateway Rosyth initiative.”