Feature, Freight News, Sea

Felixstowe hits a century

[ December 2, 2021   //   Chris ]

Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe said it had passed the cumulative 100 million teu mark since it handled its first container in the 1960s.

The 100^th million unit was loaded at Berth 8, the port’s newest facility and one of four capable of handling the world’s largest container ships.

Commenting at a ceremony to mark the occasion, UK Maritime Minister Robert Courts paid tribute to the tens of thousands of maritime workers who keep critical goods and supplies moving and kept the country’s supplies moving throughout the pandemic.

Felixstowe chief executive Chris Lewis, said: “The Port of Felixstowe has been setting the benchmark for UK container ports since we handled the first Sealand containers in what was then the Dock Basin in 1966. We…have been leading the way ever since.”

Clemence Cheng, managing director of Felixstowe’s owner, Hutchison Ports Europe, added: “As the number of ultra-large container ships increases we are continuing to invest in the facilities they require. Berth 7 has been deepened to 16.5 metres and next year we will increase Berth 6 to the same depth and future-proof Berths 8 & 9 by increasing them to 18 metres, further enhancing our ability to work the largest container ships afloat.”

The work to deepen berths complements work being undertaken by Harwich Haven Authority to deepen the port’s main navigation channel from 14.5 metres to 16.0 metres to provide access for the growing numbers of super-sized vessels.

Tags: Felixstowe; Hutchison Ports