View source for Port of Felixstowe

{{Short description|UK container port in Felixstowe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox port
| name               = Port of Felixstowe
| image              = Aerial view of the Port of Felixstowe.jpg
| image_size         = 250px
| image_caption      = 
| country            = United Kingdom
| location           = [[Felixstowe]]
| coordinates        = {{Coord|51.955|1.310|display=inline,title}}
| opened             = 1875
| operated           = [[Felixstowe Branch Line|Felixstowe Dock & Railway Company]]
| owner              = [[Hutchison Port Holdings]]
| type               = [[Containerization|Container]] port
| sizewater          = 
| sizeland           = 
| size               = {{cvt|338,3|ha|acre}}
| berths             = 10 (9 Active)
| wharfs             = 
| piers              = 
| employees          = 3,500 approx. (2017)
| leadershiptitle    = [[Chief Executive Officer]]
| leader             = Clemence Cheng
| blankdetailstitle1 = 
| blankdetails1      = 
| blankdetailstitle2 = 
| blankdetails2      = 
| blankdetailstitle3 = 
| blankdetails3      = 
| arrivals           = 3,000 sea
| website            = {{URL|portoffelixstowe.co.uk}}
}}

The '''Port of Felixstowe''', in [[Felixstowe]], [[Suffolk]], is the United Kingdom's largest [[containerization|container]] port,<ref name="joc.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.joc.com/sites/default/files/u48783/pdf/Top50-container-2012.pdf |title=Journal of Commerce: THE JOC TOP 50 WORLD CONTAINER PORTS |access-date=28 January 2013 |archive-date=1 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201194612/https://www.joc.com/sites/default/files/u48783/pdf/Top50-container-2012.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> dealing with 48% of Britain's containerised trade.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/ |title=Port of Felixstowe :: Home |access-date=22 January 2008 |archive-date=7 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207171103/https://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC-2013-02-18">{{cite news |title=How much bigger can container ships get? |date=18 February 2013 |first=William |last=Kremer |work=[[BBC World Service]]|publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21432226 |access-date=19 February 2013 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111170347/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21432226 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, it was ranked as 43rd [[List of busiest container ports|busiest container port]] in the world and 8th in Europe, with a handled traffic of {{TEU|3.85 million|first=yes}}.<ref name="lloydmi">{{Cite web |url=https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1123526/43-Felixstowe-UK |title=Lloyd's List's One Hundred Container Ports 2018 Edition |date=31 August 2018 |access-date=22 May 2019 |archive-date=28 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528180724/https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1123526/43-Felixstowe-UK |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019 it was ranked the UK's 7th busiest port.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ukports.com/what-are-the-10-largest-ports-in-the-uk |title=UKs 10 busiest ports |access-date=2023-03-22 |archive-date=2023-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223214559/https://www.ukports.com/what-are-the-10-largest-ports-in-the-uk |url-status=live}}</ref>

The port is operated by the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company, which was set up under an [[Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom|Act of Parliament]], the Felixstowe Railway and Pier Act 1875, and so is one of the few [[Private company limited by shares|limited companies]] in the UK that do not have the word "Limited" in their name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Primary&PageNumber=9&NavFrom=2&parentActiveTextDocId=0&linkToSearchEnacted=0&linkToSearchDay=4&linkToLocale=E%2BW%2BS%2BN.I.&linkToMatchExactLocale=0&linkToSearchMonth=12&linkToSearchYear=2009&linkToATDocumentId=3430026&filesize=8236 |title=The Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company (Land Acquisition) Order 2007 (No. 3345) |work=Statute Law |access-date=2010-03-23 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Much of the land on which it sits is owned by [[Trinity College, Cambridge]], which in the 1930s bought some land near Felixstowe which included a dock that was too small to be included in the [[National Dock Labour Scheme]]. In 1967, it set up Britain's first container terminal for £3.5m in a deal with [[Sea-Land Service]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Box |last=Levinson |first=Marc |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0691136400 |pages=204}}</ref> Because container shipping is much more economically efficient in bulk, this early start led to it becoming the UK's largest container port, despite its previous insignificance to the shipping market.

By 1980, Felixstowe had become the largest container port in the UK.<ref name="History">{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/about/history/ |website=Port of Felixstowe |access-date=25 November 2024}}</ref> In April 1981, Dooley and Walton, two new terminals started operation.<ref name="History"/> Walton was owned by [[OOCL]] and operated separately. The port was purchased by [[P&O]] in 1987.<ref name="History"/>

Felixstowe is owned by [[Hutchison Port Holdings]] (HPH) and has always been privately owned. In 1951, Gordon Parker, an agricultural merchant, bought the Felixstowe Dock & Railway Company, which at the time was handling only grain and coal.{{Citation needed|date=February 2013}} In 1976, Felixstowe was bought by [[European Ferries]]. In June 1991, P&O sold Felixstowe to [[Hutchison Whampoa]] of Hong Kong for £90m. Walton terminal was amalgamated and OOCL became a 25% shareholder.<ref name="History"/> In June 1994, Hutchison Whampoa's Hutchison International Port Holdings bought out Orient Overseas International's 25% stake in Felixstowe for £50m.{{Citation needed|date=February 2013}} On 21 August 2022, the first strike in thirty years occurred when about 1,900 [[Unite the Union|Unite]] members walked out in a dispute over pay.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-21 |title=Felixstowe: Strike begins at UK's biggest container port |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-62608112 |access-date=2022-08-21 |archive-date=21 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821071017/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-62608112 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The port has its own [[Port of Felixstowe Police]], [[Fire service in the United Kingdom|fire]], and [[Emergency medical services in the United Kingdom|ambulance]] services.

==Description==

===Terminals===
[[File:Felixstowe port.JPG|thumb|right|Landguard Terminal in the foreground with Trinity Terminal in the background]]
[[File:Aerial view of the dock at the Port of Felixstowe.jpg|thumbnail|right|Port of Felixstowe]]
The port has two main container terminals, '''Trinity''' and '''Landguard''', as well as a [[roll-on/roll-off]] terminal.

There is a continuous quay of over {{convert|2.3|km|mi|abbr=off}}, equipped with 29 ship-to shore [[gantry crane]]s. The main navigation channel is dredged to {{cvt|14.5|metres}} below [[chart datum]], with a maximum depth of {{cvt|15|metres}}{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}} alongside the quay. This allows Felixstowe to accommodate the world's latest generation of deep-draughted [[Panamax#Post-Panamax|post-Panamax]] vessels and the much larger [[Maersk Triple E class]], launched in 2013 and capable of carrying 18,000 [[Twenty-foot equivalent unit|TEU]]s.<ref name="BBC-2013-02-18"/>

===Transport connections===
The [[A14 road (England)|A14]] connects the port to the [[English Midlands]] and the [[M6 motorway|M6]], the north via the M1 and M6 and [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] and via the [[A12 road (England)|A12]] to London. The port (as simply "Felixstowe") is signed from as far away as M6 junction 1 for [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]].

Each terminal has its own rail terminal which connects to the [[Felixstowe Branch Line]]. The second rail container terminal opened on 16 May 1983.<ref>Felixstowe opens second rail container terminal ''[[International Railway Journal]]'' August 1983 page 27</ref>

===Seafarers and crew welfare===
Seafarers' welfare charity [[Apostleship of the Sea]], which provides practical and pastoral support to seafarers, has a [http://apostleshipofthesea.org.uk/contact-our-chaplains port chaplain] based at Felixstowe port.

==Current developments==

===Felixstowe South===
{{Infobox Future Infrastructure Project
| property_name = Felixstowe South Reconfiguration
| image_name = 
| image_size = 
| caption = 
| location = [[Felixstowe]]
| proposer = [[Hutchison Whampoa]]{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}
| estimated cost = 
| stakeholders = 
}}

In 2008, work began on the construction and reconfiguration of Felixstowe South terminal creating 1,300 m of quay served by 12 new ship-to-shore gantry cranes. Work will be carried out in two stages with 750 m of sea wall complete by the end of 2010 and stage which is expected to open in 2014.{{Update inline|date=March 2019}} This new terminal will have a clearance of 16 m and gantries suited for extra large box carriers.<ref name=CHIL1>
{{cite web |url=http://en.hxlogistics.cn/NEWS/Felixstowe-South-reconfiguration-is-started.html |title=Felixstowe South reconfiguration is started |publisher=Century Haixin International Logistics (Shenzhen) |access-date=2009-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015165108/http://en.hxlogistics.cn/NEWS/Felixstowe-South-reconfiguration-is-started.html |archive-date=15 October 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Felixstowe and Nuneaton freight capacity scheme===
{{Main|Felixstowe to Nuneaton railway upgrade}}

[[File:CSCL Globe arriving at Felixstowe, United Kingdom.jpg|thumb|250px|''[[CSCL Globe]]'', the largest container ship at the time, arriving at the port in January 2015]]

The railway track between Felixstowe and [[Nuneaton railway station|Nuneaton]] has been upgraded to allow for more [[freight trains]] by clearing the route to W10 [[loading gauge]], allowing 'Hi-cube' [[Intermodal container|shipping containers]] to be carried between the Port of Felixstowe and the [[West Coast Main Line]] at Nuneaton. The West Coast Main Line had previously been cleared to W10 and the route from Nuneaton to Birmingham was already cleared to W12.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-projects/felixstowe-nuneaton-9.html |title=Felixstowe - Nuneaton |work=Railway people |access-date=2010-05-16 |archive-date=24 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324004830/http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-projects/felixstowe-nuneaton-9.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

This work will accommodate additional freight traffic as a result of 'Felixstowe South' expansion at the Port of Felixstowe. It will also allow the newer high-cube containers to be carried by train - and the percentage of these containers is expected to increase from 30% in 2007 to 50% in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.logisticsmanager.com/Articles/7891/132m+boost+for+rail+freight+.html |title=£132m boost for rail freight |work=Logistics manager |access-date=2010-05-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005171947/http://www.logisticsmanager.com/Articles/7891/132m%2Bboost%2Bfor%2Brail%2Bfreight%2B.html |archive-date=5 October 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Network Rail]] completed the gauge enhancement from Ipswich to [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]] in 2008.<ref name=PofFdev>{{cite web |url=http://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/publications/journal/frmfuturedevelopment.aspx |title=FUTURE DEVELOPMENT |publisher=Port of Felixstowe |access-date=2010-01-11 |archive-date=17 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317201844/https://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/publications/journal/frmfuturedevelopment.aspx/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Work should be completed by 2014<ref name=FtN>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/Delivery%20Plan/2009/Enhancements.pdf |title=Enhancements programme: statement of scope, outputs and milestones |publisher=[[Network Rail]] |date=2009-03-31 |access-date=2009-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902143019/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/Delivery%20Plan/2009/Enhancements.pdf |archive-date=2 September 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> at an estimated cost of £291 million.<ref name=netrailFtN>{{cite web |url=http://www.eera.gov.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAyADUANAAxAHwAfABGAGEAbABzAGUAfAB8ADAAfAA1 |title=Presentation to Regional Transport Forum |publisher=[[Network Rail]] |date=2009-02-10 |access-date=2009-09-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606051050/http://www.eera.gov.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAyADUANAAxAHwAfABGAGEAbABzAGUAfAB8ADAAfAA1 |archive-date=6 June 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Copdock Roundabout===
{{Main|A14 road (England)#Copdock interchange (J55)}}
As part of the Felixstowe South development, Hutchison Ports will provide financial support intended to increase capacity at the [[A14 road (England)|Copdock interchange (J55)]] between the A14 and the A12.<ref name=Inspector>{{cite web |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/shippingports/ports/ir/felixstowesouth/felixstowesouthreconfigurati4953?page=14 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100304122754/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/shippingports/ports/ir/felixstowesouth/felixstowesouthreconfigurati4953?page=14 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-03-04 |title=The effect of the proposed development on safety and the free flow of traffic and its consistency with national transport planning policies |publisher=Department for Transport |access-date=2010-05-16}}</ref>

== 2022 dockers' strike ==
The dispute followed the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company offering a pay increase of 5%.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Massive 92 per cent yes vote for strike action at Felixstowe Docks |url=https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2022/july/massive-92-per-cent-yes-vote-for-strike-action-at-felixstowe-docks/https%3a%2f%2fwww.unitetheunion.org%2fnews-events%2fnews%2f2022%2fjuly%2fmassive-92-per-cent-yes-vote-for-strike-action-at-felixstowe-docks%2f |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=www.unitetheunion.org |language=en}}</ref> Unite reported that this equated to a real-terms pay cut with retail price inflation at 11.9%.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-28 |title=Dockers at UK's largest container port vote to strike in August |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/28/dockers-at-uk-felixstowe-suffolk-port-vote-to-strike-in-august |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826092137/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/28/dockers-at-uk-felixstowe-suffolk-port-vote-to-strike-in-august |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, dock workers received a below inflation pay increase of 1.4%. In July 2022, [[Unite the Union|Unite]] members at Felixstowe voted on industrial action and workers recorded a 92% yes vote on an 81% turnout.<ref name="auto"/> In August, dock workers walked out from the site in the first industrial action of its kind in 30 years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-21 |title=Felixstowe: Dock workers strike for first time in 30 years |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-62608112 |access-date=2022-08-26 |archive-date=21 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821071017/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-62608112 |url-status=live}}</ref> Coverage of the industrial action revealed that some Felixstowe dockers relied on the support of food banks and were struggling to make mortgage payments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Felixstowe dockers 'relying on food banks' as port strike reaches second day |url=https://www.radionewshub.com/articles/news-updates/14625 |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=www.radionewshub.com |date=22 August 2022 |language=en |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826092138/https://www.radionewshub.com/articles/news-updates/14625 |url-status=live}}</ref> Trade union communications by [[Unite the Union|Unite]] used the hashtag #DockersDeserveBetter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Port of Felixstowe: Dockers demand better |url=https://www.unitetheunion.org/campaigns/port-of-felixstowe-dockers-demand-better/https%3a%2f%2fwww.unitetheunion.org%2fcampaigns%2fport-of-felixstowe-dockers-demand-better%2f |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=www.unitetheunion.org |language=en}}</ref>

In a press statement, General Secretary of [[Unite the Union|Unite]], [[Sharon Graham]] said:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-28 |title=Port workers in Suffolk set to strike in dispute over pay |url=https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/felixstowe/port-workers-in-suffolk-set-to-strike-in-dispute-over-pay-9266343/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Suffolk News |language=en |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826092143/https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/felixstowe/port-workers-in-suffolk-set-to-strike-in-dispute-over-pay-9266343/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Blockquote |text=The bottom line is this is an extremely wealthy company that can fully afford to give its workers a pay rise. Instead it chose to give bonanza pay outs to shareholders touching £100 million.}}

On 24 August footage and photographs recorded a port worker carrying a [[Unite the Union]] flag surfed in front of an [[Evergreen Marine Corporation|Evergreen Marine Corp]] container ship.<ref>{{Citation |title=Felixstowe strike: Port worker surfs holding Unite the Union flag |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/strike-port-union-felixstowe-surfing-b2152963.html |language=en |access-date=2022-08-26 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826092830/https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/strike-port-union-felixstowe-surfing-b2152963.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Felixstowe strike: Port worker surfs holding Unite the Union flag |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/felixstowe-strike-port-worker-surfs-holding-unite-the-union-flag/ar-AA116kab |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=MSN |language=en-GB |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826092138/https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/felixstowe-strike-port-worker-surfs-holding-unite-the-union-flag/ar-AA116kab |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PA Images |url=https://www.paimages.co.uk/search-results/fluid/?q=felixstowe%20strike%20surf&category=A,S,E&fields_0=all&fields_1=all&imagesonly=1&orientation=both&words_0=all&words_1=all |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=paimages.co.uk |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826093326/https://www.paimages.co.uk/search-results/fluid/?q=felixstowe%20strike%20surf&category=A,S,E&fields_0=all&fields_1=all&imagesonly=1&orientation=both&words_0=all&words_1=all |url-status=live}}</ref> The footage was published on Twitter by trade unionist and Labour councillor Lauren Townsend and included a sample from [[AC/DC|AC/DC's]] [[Back in Black (song)|Back in Black.]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/laurenjtownsend/status/1562717578765942786 |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Twitter |language=en |title=Archived copy |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826093324/https://twitter.com/laurenjtownsend/status/1562717578765942786 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1976/mar/24/british-transport-docks-felixstowe-bill BRITISH TRANSPORT DOCKS (FELIXSTOWE) BILL] Discussion in the Commons - 1976
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4943382.stm Thinking inside the box] [[BBC News]] article about growth of the port

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

*{{Official website|http://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/}}

{{UK Docks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Felixstowe}}
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Suffolk]]
[[Category:Container terminals]]
[[Category:CK Hutchison Holdings]]
[[Category:Felixstowe|Port]]