Hutchinson Ports (UK), owner of the Port of Felixstowe, has announced that the Government has given the go-ahead for the reconfiguration of the southern area of the port.
The development will see the conversion of the Port’s original Dock Basin, an area previously used by P&O North Sea Ferries and the existing Landguard Terminal, into a new deep-sea container terminal.
Chris Lewis, chief executive officer of Hutchinson Ports (UK) said: “We are, of course, delighted with the news. There is a substantial and very obvious need for further UK port capacity, to cope with ever-increasing volumes of international trade.
“This decision is good news for shipping lines and UK importers and exporters, who can now be confident that extra capacity will be brought on stream as soon as possible.”
Features of the development will include 1,350 metres of quay dredged to 16m alongside, and an approach channel dredged to 14.5m.
It is expected that the first phase of the new terminal will commence operation in 2008. When fully operational, the Felixstowe South development will create 621 direct jobs, with an additional 860 in associated industries.
