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Felixstowe digs deep for next-generation boxships

[ April 13, 2021   //   ]

Hutchison Ports has completed strengthening and dredging works to Berth 7 at its Felixstowe Trinity Terminal.

Berth 7 – one of nine container berths – has been dredged from 15.0m to 16.5 metres below Chart Datum and the berth box widened from 55m to 70m.

Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe chief executive, Chris Lewis, said: ” As the number of ultra-large container ships continues to grow we will continue to improve and upgrade our facilities to meet the needs of our customers.

“Berths 8&9 are designed for a maximum depth of 18 metres 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 metres. “

The berth upgrade, together with a program to extend the outreach of 10  ZPMC quay cranes to 23 boxes wide on Berths 6 & 7, are 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. With a departure draft of 15.6 metres, the vessel was the deepest ever to be berthed on Trinity Terminal.

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