Shipping giant to move operations from major port

A major container shipping company has announced it will no longer use the Port of Felixstowe for its larger vessels from next year.

Maersk said the changes would take effect in February following a review of its Asia-Europe shipping routes.

The firm said it had concluded the London Gateway on the Thames estuary in Essex was "the most optimal port to serve our customers" in the UK.

It said it expected to share further details "over the next couple of weeks".

Mike Page Aerial Photography

Felixstowe has described itself as Britain's busiest container port

In a statement on its website, Maersk said the changes were part of the Gemini Co-operation, which is a review of its network carried out with the Hapag-Lloyd shipping company.

"During this optimisation process... we have concluded that London Gateway is the most optimal port to serve our customers importing/exporting cargo to/from the UK," it said.

"Due to this change, Felixstowe will not be a part of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s shared Gemini network.

"The previously announced Middle East-Europe (London Gateway) and Trans-Atlantic (Southampton) Gemini services remain unchanged."

It added: "There are no changes for Maersk’s own operated services to/from Felixstowe outside the scope of the Gemini Co-operation."

Maersk has not said what this means in terms of the number of its ships that will not dock at Felixstowe any more.

However, the BBC understands the decision means Felixstowe will see about two fewer large vessels at the port each week.

Felixstowe's quayside has the capacity to welcome the world's largest container ships, which can carry upwards of 20,000 containers.

Maersk's smaller ships, which serve shorter sea routes, are still expected to call at the port.

The news comes a month after it was announced £1bn was to be pumped into expanding London Gateway, which opened for business in 2013.

Source: BBC 

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