Paving the way for further growth of UK’s largest container port
VolkerFitzpatrick has been appointed by Hutchison Ports to undertake the latest phase of expansion at the Port of Felixstowe. The contract involves the design and construction of approximately 13 hectares of paved container yard directly behind berth 9.
During the 15 month programme, VolkerFitzpatrick will be working together with fellow VolkerWessels UK business, VolkerStevin, to reclaim circa 3.2 hectares of seabed behind the existing finger pier. VolkerFitzpatrick’s specialist paving division will carry out the paving works by utilising its own paving and concrete batching plant onsite.
Commenting on the latest development, Clemence Cheng, executive director, Hutchison Ports, said: “Berths 8 & 9 were the first 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.”
Chris Evans, managing director of VolkerFitzpatrick’s civils division, commented: “After successfully completing rail terminal and berth extension works for Hutchison Ports in the past, we are delighted to work at the Port of Felixstowe once again. Whilst working in a live environment, we are determined to deliver this project safely and efficiently, enabling the UK’s largest container port to further expand its operations.”
Completion of the new container yard, which will comprise ten container blocks and allow 6-high stacking, is scheduled for early 2019. The yard will add 18,000 TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit) of stacking capacity to the 130,000 TEU already available at the UK’s largest container port.