Works in Felixstowe enter next stage
The terminal and port operator Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe has further enhanced its deep-water berth capacity following the completion of strengthening and dredging works to berth 7 on Trinity Terminal.
Berth 7 – one of the Port of Felixstowe’s nine container berths - has been dredged from 15.0 m to 16.5 m below chart datum and the berth box widened from 55 m to 70 m.
Chris Lewis, CEO, Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe: "The berths 8 and 9 are designed for a maximum depth of 18 m and the next phase of development will see further increases to the depths at Berths 6, 8 and 9. The deeper berths are being complemented by dredging planned by Harwich Haven Authority to increase the depth of the approach channel to up to 16 m."
The berth upgrade and a programme to extend the outreach of ten ZPMC quay cranes to 23 boxes wide on Berths 6 and 7, were launched in response to the increasing size and depth of the world’s largest container vessels.
The 19,630 teu “Manila Maersk,” operated on the 2M AE6/NEU3 service to Asia, was the first vessel to use the deeper berth. (cd)