Aerial view of a fully loaded container ship at sea
UK ports · Greenock

Container haulage and clearance at Greenock

Scotland’s west coast container terminal on the Clyde, close to Glasgow.

Greenock Ocean Terminal is the container terminal on Scotland's west coast, on the Firth of Clyde about 25 miles from Glasgow. We clear containers through Greenock in-house and deliver them across Glasgow, the west of Scotland and beyond.

TerminalGreenock Ocean Terminal
LocationFirth of Clyde, west Scotland
Road linksA8 and M8 to Glasgow
ServicesClearance, haulage, sea freight

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

  1. Pre-advice: send us the container number, vessel and ETA at Greenock, the delivery address and the gross weight.
  2. Customs clearance: we lodge the import declaration in-house, and duty and VAT are paid or deferred before release.
  3. Release and holds: we check the shipping line release and any customs, port health or carrier holds before a truck is sent.
  4. Collection: the container is collected from Greenock on a booked slot and delivered at the time agreed with your site.
  5. Empty return: the empty goes back to the terminal or the depot the shipping line nominates, inside free time.

Delivery times from Greenock

Typical driving times for a container lorry from Greenock
DestinationApproximate distanceTypical driving time
Glasgow25 miles45 minutes–1 hour
Ayrshire30–40 miles1 hour
Edinburgh70 miles1.5–2 hours
Stirling and Falkirk45–50 miles1–1.5 hours
Aberdeen170 miles3.5–4 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.
FAQs

Greenock container questions

Got another one? Ask us.

Do you handle container haulage from Greenock?

Yes. We arrange collection from Greenock Ocean Terminal and delivery across Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Can you clear customs at Greenock?

Yes. We lodge import and export declarations in-house for containers through Greenock.

Is Greenock or Grangemouth better?

It depends on your shipping line and where you're delivering. Greenock suits Glasgow and the west, while Grangemouth often suits central and eastern Scotland.

Can I book haulage only?

Yes. We're happy to quote Greenock haulage or clearance on its own.

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