Southampton port starts merger of two berths
Southampton’s frontline role in global trade is being being underlined with the official launch of a US244 million investment project at the port by Associated British Ports (ABP), the port owner and joint venture partner in DP World Southampton, the container terminal operator.
The ceremonial lifting of the first paving slab signals the beginning of the reconstruction of berths 201/202 at the container terminal in a milestone project that will combine the two berths into a new fourth berth for the next generation of ultra-large container carriers.
Reconstruction will bring berth 201/202 full circle, 40 years on at the deep-sea container terminal. The facility was originally commissioned in 1972, when the very first container vessel, Kamakura Maru, arrived in January 1972 at berth 202.
The new berth is required so the container terminal can continue to service four of the largest container ships simultaneously. The works are due for completion by December 2013 with the berth being operational in January 2014.
Capable of handling the next generation of 16,000 TEU+ vessels, which are 400m long, the quay will be 500m in length with five cranes and 16m depth alongside.
