Southampton Port Sets Stage for Heavyweights

Associated British Ports’ Port of Southampton is ready to handle the biggest ships in the world after the dredgers have completed a GBP 40 million (USD 63.7m) project to deepen and widen the approach channel linking international shipping lanes to the Port.

The dredging project ensures ships with a draught of up to 15.5 metres – the biggest container vessels currently in service – will be able to access the Port’s container terminal. The dredging is the final piece of the project to enhance capability at the container terminal that is operated by DP World.

The SCT 5 berth has a 500 metres deep-water quay and is purpose built to cater for the largest ships in the world. As well as deep-water access, it is also equipped with the cranes capable of reaching across vessels 24 containers wide.

Chris Lewis, Managing Director, DP World Southampton, said: “The main channel dredging will enable container vessels to depart the terminal at 15.5 metres draught which is very important to our shipping line customers where Southampton is last port of call out of Europe. Our new SCT 5 berth, which is dredged to 16 metres can also be further deepened to 17 metres to meet future demand.”

Press Release