Crunch day for £150m port plan for Southampton docks



THE critical decision on whether Southampton port will be able to press ahead with a £150m expansion bringing 2,000 jobs was due to be announced today.
After months of delays due to legal challenges and red tape a government agency is expected to confirm whether the project to increase the size of berths at the container terminal can go-ahead.
It would ensure the container terminal’s future competitiveness and safeguard 800 direct jobs and 1,200 indirect jobs.
Port owner ABP wants to combine the existing berths 201 and 202 alongside an upgraded 500m quay wall.

An increase in the length of container ships has meant the current deep-sea berths, 204 to 207, can no longer handle four of the next generation of container vessels at once.
The Marine Management Organisation needs to give the go ahead for dredging and upgrade works to begin. ABP rival Hutchinson Ports, owners of Felixstowe, forced a reassessment of the scheme when it launched a judicial review of an earlier consent ago on environmental grounds.
Hampshire MPs have been lobbying the Government for a quick resolution to the hold-ups to avoid fatal delays for Southampton.
Port director Doug Morrison said the decision was vital so contracts could be awarded for work to start in tight time window this September.
Otherwise they could be delayed for another year.
The major works must be carried out between September and March to avoid disturbing migratory Atlantic salmon.
Mr Morrison said if a decision went beyond April it would put the port in an “impossible situation.”

Comments