Delays
Hutchison Ports Europe Ltd 2018 results could be impacted by delays that have led to some lines temporarily diverting their ships to other UK ports over the summer. The delays have been caused by glitches resulting from the introduction of a new terminal operating in June.
MSC, and its vessel sharing agreement partners, switched their IPAK service from calling at Felixstowe to London Gateway earlier this month.
Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) also recently diverted its North Europe – Turkey (NET) service to Southampton. And In July, Maersk Line diverted one of its transatlantic services with MSC and its COEX service from Felixstowe to the Port of Liverpool for 12 weeks.
New giant cranes
In April, the Port of Felixstowe took delivery of its first remote control ship-to-shore gantry cranes that handle containers stowed up to 11-high and 24-wide on deck. Thanks to their giant size, these cranes are capable of receiving some of the world’s biggest mega-ships, which now make increasingly regular visits to the port.
In addition to the new cranes, the port is increasing its container storage capacity by 18,000 TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units – the standard industry measure of container capacity), upgrading its terminal operating system and raising the height of 10 ship-to-shore cranes at its Trinity Terminal. It also has eight additional yard cranes on order for delivery in early 2019.
Future plans
The port has proposals for a 300-acre 24-hour business park on farmland between Trimley St Martin and Kirton.
The business park will include warehousing, haulage yards, lorry parking and logistics centres, along with cafes and truck stop facilities. The port also has plans for a huge logistics centre within its own boundaries and for further expansion at Christmasyard Wood in Trimley,
Brexit
Jason Flower of the Felixstowe Port Users Association recently warned that there could be difficulties if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal, and without a transition period to prepare for the country’s departure from the bloc.
UK ports play a vital role in the UK economy.
The vast majority of the container ships Felixstowe receives come from China, “and that won’t change because of Brexit,” said Felixstowe’s portmaster Ashley Parker.
Read the full article on East Anglian Daily Times.
