Port of Felixstowe
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The Port of Felixstowe, in Felixstowe, Suffolk is the UK's busiest container port, dealing with 35% of the country's container cargo[citation needed]. It was developed following the abandonment of a project for a deep-water harbour at Maplin Sands. In 2005, it was ranked as the 28th busiest container port in the world[1] and Europe's sixth busiest.[2] The port handled 3.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of traffic in 2007, a ten percent increase on 2006.[2]
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[edit] Terminals
The port has two main container terminals, Trinity and Landguard as well as a RO-RO terminal, Dooley.
The main navigation channel is dredged to 14.5 metres below Chart Datum, with a maximum depth of 15 metres[citation needed] alongside the quay, Felixstowe boasts deep-water able to accommodate the world’s latest generation of deep-draughted post-Panamax vessels. There is a continuous quay of over 2.3km, equipped with 25 ship-to shore gantry cranes.
[edit] Expansion
In 2008 work began on the construction and reconfiguration of Felixstowe South terminal. Work will be carried out in two stages with 750m of sea wall complete by the end of 2010. This new terminal will have a clearance of 16m and gantries suited for extra large box carriers. Stage two has an expected completion date of 2014. Overall 1,300m quay will be built which will be served by 13 new ship-to-shore gantry cranes.[3]
[edit] Transport connections
The A14 ends at the port, giving good connections with the Suffolk Lands, and also to London (via the A12) and the North (via the A1).
Each terminal has its own rail terminal which connects to the currently single track Felixstowe Branch Line.
[edit] Ownership
The port is operated by the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company, which is one of the few limited companies in the UK that do not have the word "Limited" in their name as it was set up under an Act of Parliament.[citation needed] In turn, the Dock and Railway Company is owned by Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.[4] Much of the land on which it sits is owned by Trinity College, Cambridge.
The port has its own police force, Fire and ambulance services.
[edit] References
- ^ "World Port Rankings 2005". American Association of Port Authorities. May 2007. http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/WORLD%20PORT%20RANKINGS%202005.xls. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
- ^ a b Van Marle, Gavin (2008-01-31). "Europe Terminals stretched to limit". Lloyds List Daily Commercial News: pp. 8-9.
- ^ "Felixstowe South reconfiguration is started". Century Haixin International Logistics (Shenzhen). http://en.hxlogistics.cn/NEWS/Felixstowe-South-reconfiguration-is-started.html. Retrieved on 2009-07-01.
- ^ Port of Felixstowe. "Brief History". http://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/publications/journal/frmhistory.aspx.
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 51°57′15″N 1°18′37″E / 51.954171°N 1.310158°E
