Groundbreaking ceremony for Felixstowe South

Contractor Costain was appointed in May to construct what will be the UK’s first new deepwater container capacity when it comes on stream in 2010. Work to date has concentrated on the demolition of a number of old buildings and warehouses. Dug by hand in 1882, the Dock Basin is the oldest part of the Port of Felixstowe and handled its first import in 1886.

Chris Lewis, CEO of Hutchison Ports UK Limited, which owns the Port of Felixstowe, said: “This is a significant day for the Port of Felixstowe and marks the beginning of a new era in our development. Whilst we are already able to accommodate the largest vessels on the market, the Felixstowe South project will enable us to handle more vessels simultaneously, resulting in even better facilities for our customers and securing our position as the UK’s number one port.”

John Meredith, group managing director of Hutchison Port Holdings, commented: “The expansion of the Port of Felixstowe is of great strategic importance in the European market and Hutchison Port Holdings fully supports this development which is critical to secure early deepwater capacity for the UK market.”