Felixstowe unveils new terminal
The UK’s largest container port, Felixstowe, today opens a new deepwater shipping terminal with the country’s only berths capable of accommodating the world’s largest containerships, ifw-net reports.
The new facility is expected to create around 1,500 jobs.
The new terminal will comprise two berths – 8 & 9 – and is the first stage of a £1 billion investment programme by Hutchison Ports UK (HPUK), which owns the port.
Currently, Felixstowe handles more than 40% of the UK’s container cargo, with around £60 billion of imports and exports passing through the port each year. The expansion could add a further £20bn to this figure.
The company said berths 8 & 9 were the only ones in the UK capable of handling the largest containerships currently on order – Maersk’s 18,000teu triple-E class – and they will be equipped with seven of the largest container cranes in the world.
Each crane is able to manage ships with containers stowed 24-wide on deck.
The port said it expected the new berths to “enhance significantly” the UK’s supply chain infrastructure.
Large containerships from East Asia only make three or four stops at European ports. With the availability of berths 8 & 9, Felixstowe hopes to join the ports on the ships’ calling cards.
David Gledhill, CEO of HPUK said: “As containerships get larger, it is crucial that ports like Felixstowe stay ahead of the game.
"Failure to provide facilities would mean the world’s most efficient ships could not dock in the UK, driving up the cost of imports and making exports less competitive.”
He added: “The investment programme planned for Felixstowe will also benefit the local area. [It] will create 1,500 new jobs, a massive boon to employment in the region.”
As part of the project, the port will construct a third rail terminal next year, with capacity for 30-wagon trains.
It will be the longest terminal, of its type, in the UK, doubling rail freight capacity at the port.
The new facility is expected to create around 1,500 jobs.
The new terminal will comprise two berths – 8 & 9 – and is the first stage of a £1 billion investment programme by Hutchison Ports UK (HPUK), which owns the port.
Currently, Felixstowe handles more than 40% of the UK’s container cargo, with around £60 billion of imports and exports passing through the port each year. The expansion could add a further £20bn to this figure.
The company said berths 8 & 9 were the only ones in the UK capable of handling the largest containerships currently on order – Maersk’s 18,000teu triple-E class – and they will be equipped with seven of the largest container cranes in the world.
Each crane is able to manage ships with containers stowed 24-wide on deck.
The port said it expected the new berths to “enhance significantly” the UK’s supply chain infrastructure.
Large containerships from East Asia only make three or four stops at European ports. With the availability of berths 8 & 9, Felixstowe hopes to join the ports on the ships’ calling cards.
David Gledhill, CEO of HPUK said: “As containerships get larger, it is crucial that ports like Felixstowe stay ahead of the game.
"Failure to provide facilities would mean the world’s most efficient ships could not dock in the UK, driving up the cost of imports and making exports less competitive.”
He added: “The investment programme planned for Felixstowe will also benefit the local area. [It] will create 1,500 new jobs, a massive boon to employment in the region.”
As part of the project, the port will construct a third rail terminal next year, with capacity for 30-wagon trains.
It will be the longest terminal, of its type, in the UK, doubling rail freight capacity at the port.