Associated British Ports , the UK’s largest ports operator, has won a Safety Excellence Award for an innovative approach to steel slab handling at the Port of Newport, the UK’s leading steel handling port, in South Wales.

The award was presented at the Rail Freight Group Awards Dinner on Thursday 10 September, recognising work delivered by ABP in collaboration with Tata Steel and DB Cargo UK to improve the safety of steel slab handling within the port’s rail terminal.

Previously, steel slabs weighing between 20 and 30 tonnes were handled using traditional chain-based lifting methods. This required operatives to manually attach and detach chains and work within areas where heavy plant and rail operations were taking place.

ABP introduced custom-designed magnetic lifting technology on cranes and forklift trucks operating within the terminal. The system allows steel slabs to be lifted and moved without operatives needing to physically interact with the load, removing chains and manual intervention from the process.

Ashley Curnow, Divisional Port Manager for Wales and South West at ABP, said: “Safety is ABP’s licence to operate. It sits at the heart of every decision we make, and this project is a powerful example of how innovation can remove risk from our operations. In Newport, working alongside Tata Steel and DB Cargo UK, our team has transformed steel handling at the UK’s leading steel port, delivering an industry-leading solution for our customer.”

The project also included the introduction of visual alignment aids on rail wagons, helping operators position slabs consistently and reducing the need for rehandling during the loading process.

The changes have supported improvements in rail operations while also delivering environmental benefits. Increased payloads mean fewer trains are required to transport the same volume of steel, helping to reduce traction energy use and associated carbon emissions.

Craig Stephen, Head of Operations (Wales) at ABP, who accepted the award on behalf of the project team, said: “This award is a great recognition of the work that has gone into changing the way we handle steel slabs at Newport. Moving away from chain-based lifting has removed a significant area of manual interaction and reduced the number of people exposed to operational risks. It is a practical improvement that has made the operation safer for our colleagues while also improving the way we move steel through the port.”

The project was introduced through a phased process involving factory testing, on-site commissioning and live operational trials. Operator training and reviews of risk assessments and Safe Systems of Work were also completed before the technology was introduced into routine operations.

The Safety Excellence Award recognises the work carried out by ABP, Tata Steel and DB Cargo UK to improve safety within a live rail environment through engineering innovation.

The project supports the wider role of the Port of Newport in the South Wales steel supply chain and demonstrates how changes to port operations can improve safety while supporting efficient rail freight.