Hutchison Ports has selected VolkerFitzpatrick to carry out a new phase of expansion at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk, UK.
The deal will see VolkerFitzpatrick design and construct a roughly 13ha paved container yard directly behind Berth 9 of the port.
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The project will also include the reclamation of 3.2ha of seabed behind the existing finger pier.
Hutchison Ports executive director Clemence Cheng said: “Berths 8 and 9 were the first berths in the UK built to accommodate the latest class of ultra-large container vessels.
“The creation of additional container storage will allow us to optimise container handling operations between the berth and its supporting yard, and further enhance the service we offer to our customers.”
The new yard is expected to feature ten container blocks once completed and will allow operators to stack cargo up to six containers high.
It will be designed to add 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of stacking capacity to the port’s existing 130,000TEU capability.
The expansion development is scheduled for completion by 2019.
Hutchison Ports noted that the most recent phase of development, which included the creation of Berths 8 and 9, has provided additional deep-water capacity to the port, enabling the facility to handle the world's largest container ships.
The new container yard's construction is expected to further increase Felixstowe's ability to handle the largest container vessels.
The port is currently equipped with three rail terminals and an assortment of other facilities.
Image: Aerial view of Port of Felixstowe. Photo: courtesy of Port of Felixstowe.
