The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Transport, has officiated at a formal ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of work on the latest phase of expansion at Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe.
Approximately 13 hectares of new paved container yard is to be constructed directly behind Berth 9 at the UK's largest container port. The work will include the reclamation of 3.2 hectares of seabed.
Commenting on the latest development, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:
"This important expansion of Felixstowe continues the port's impressive record of investment to make sure it is well placed to make the most of trading opportunities both now and in the future.
"As a great, global trading nation, the UK and its ports are the natural home for international maritime business. It is great to see our largest container port expanding its offering so it can grow and prosper."
Clemence Cheng, CEO of the Port of Felixstowe and Executive Director, Hutchison Ports, added:
"Berths 8&9 were the first berths in the UK built to accommodate the latest class of ultra-large container vessels. The creation of additional container storage will allow us to optimise container handling operations between the berth and its supporting yard and further enhance the service we offer to our customers."
Completion of the new container yard, which will comprise ten container storage blocks and allow 6-high stacking, is scheduled for early 2019. The yard will add 18,000 TEU of storage capacity to the 130,000 TEU already available at the UK's largest container port.
The work will further enhance Felixstowe's ability to handle the world's largest container ships. The port was the first in the UK to handle the latest class of 18,000+ TEU ships and in 2017 welcomed 166 calls by the largest class of mega-ships, more than any other port in the country.
Hutchison Ports is continuing to invest in rail facilities at the port and a new benchmark was set in 2017 when Felixstowe became the first port in the UK to handle more than 1 million TEU by rail in a single year.
https://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/press/news-archive/latest-expansion-begins-at-port-of-felixstowe/
Cabinet minister’s visit to Felixstowe marks new phase in port expansion
PUBLISHED: 17:16 11 January 2018 | UPDATED: 17:16 11 January 2018
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has paid a whistle-stop visit to East Anglia to launch the latest expansion at the Port of Felixstowe and see progress on easing one of the region’s main rail bottlenecks at Ely.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling visits the Port of Felixstowe. Picture: GREGG BROWN
And he also made it clear he was keeping an eye on Highway’s England’s attempts to keep traffic moving on the Orwell Bridge – even if high winds are threatened.
He started the visit at Ely where work on rebuilding the north junction is due to start in two years’ time.
That will increase the capacity on cross-country routes to the Midlands and north of England from East Anglia – but at £47m it is an expensive project and it has been delayed while Network Rail re-evaluated its costs.
After that visit Mr Grayling and his team caught the train from Ely to Felixstowe where he formally started work on the creation of a new 13 hectare container yard – which includes 3.2 hectares of reclaimed seabed.
He said: “This important expansion of Felixstowe continues the port’s impressive record of investment to make sure it is well placed to make the most of trading opportunities both now and in the future.
“As a great, global trading nation, the UK and its ports are the natural home for international maritime business. It is great to see our largest container port expanding its offering so it can grow and prosper.”
He said the port’s road and rail links to the rest of the country were very important: “Hutchison Ports, which owns Felixstowe, is supporting the government’s Strategic Freight Network in a joint investment of £60million to enhance capacity on the branch line at Felixstowe – meaning even more trains will be able to carry freight away from the port.
“We are also making sure roads in the area see similar levels of improvement. That’s why we’re investing £1.5 billion in upgrading the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon into three lanes in each direction, and building a brand new 17-mile bypass south of Huntingdon.”
When asked about the problems faced by traffic when the Orwell Bridge was closed by Highways England when high winds were forecast, Mr Grayling said the agency was examine its systems to try to keep traffic moving as much as possible – and he realised the closures put unacceptable pressure on other roads in the area.
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