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Ready to welcome giants of the sea

[ November 13, 2014   //   ]

Associated British Ports’ Port of Southampton says it is ready to handle the biggest ships in the world after completion of its £40million dredging project. The work ensures ships with a draught of up to 15.5m – the biggest container vessels currently in service – will be able to access the port’s container terminal.

The dredging is the final piece of the project to enhance capability at the container terminal that is operated by DP World. The SCT 5 berth has a 500m long deep-water quay and is purpose built to cater for the largest ships in the world. As well as deep-water access, it is also equipped with the latest cranes, capable of reaching across vessels 24 containers wide.

Managing director of DP World Southampton, Chris Lewis, said: “The main channel dredging will enable container vessels to depart the terminal at 15.5m draught which is very important to our shipping line customers where Southampton is last port of call out of Europe.   Our new SCT 5 berth, which is dredged to 16m can also be further deepened to 17m to meet future demand. This means that Southampton offers the complete package – a fast, efficient and reliable service as well as world class capabilities – now and well into the future.”

The project also benefits other local harbours including Marchwood Military Port and at Fawley Refinery.

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