Greenock is mainly served by feeder services that connect with the big hub ports in Europe, which link Scottish cargo to the deep sea network. For businesses in Glasgow and the west of Scotland it can avoid a long road leg from the English ports.
It's a well-used export port for Scottish goods, including food and drink, as well as imports for the west of Scotland.
What moves through Greenock
- Feeder containers connecting with European hub ports
- Scottish exports, including food and drink
- Imports for Glasgow, Ayrshire and the west of Scotland
- Containers moved by road or rail within Scotland
How we handle containers at Greenock
- Pre-advice: send us the container number, vessel and ETA at Greenock, the delivery address and the gross weight.
- Customs clearance: we lodge the import declaration in-house, and duty and VAT are paid or deferred before release.
- Release and holds: we check the shipping line release and any customs, port health or carrier holds before a truck is sent.
- Collection: the container is collected from Greenock on a booked slot and delivered at the time agreed with your site.
- Empty return: the empty goes back to the terminal or the depot the shipping line nominates, inside free time.
Delivery times from Greenock
| Destination | Approximate distance | Typical driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | 25 miles | 45 minutes–1 hour |
| Ayrshire | 30–40 miles | 1 hour |
| Edinburgh | 70 miles | 1.5–2 hours |
| Stirling and Falkirk | 45–50 miles | 1–1.5 hours |
| Aberdeen | 170 miles | 3.5–4 hours |
Approximate. Times depend on traffic, terminal queues and driver hours.
Imports, exports and one point of contact
Whether you're importing through Greenock or exporting from it, we can handle the sea freight, the customs entry and the haulage together, so you deal with one team rather than three. We're also happy to quote Greenock haulage or clearance on its own. We'll compare Greenock with Grangemouth and the English ports for your deliveries.
Written by the 365 Freight team · Last reviewed . Rates, rules and schedules change, so we'll confirm the details for your shipment when we quote.