Port of Felixtowe - Berth 9 extension

The expansion of the UK’s largest container port at the Port of Felixtowe was officially opened in November 2015 following extensive works by Volker Stevin to extend the existing Berth 9 by 190 metres. Now complete, the works increased the combined lengths of Berths 8 and 9 to 920 metres, giving the port even greater flexibility to berth the world’s largest container ships.

  • Volker Stevin / Volker Fitzpatrick
  • Fjori Ltd (for Norder)
  • Felixtowe, UK
  • 2014-15
  • Port pavement engineering
  • Heavy-duty pavement analysis and advice
  • Options assessment
  • Reporting with recommendations
  • Use of multiple heavy-duty pavement design techniques to evaluate structural design
  • Research into current industry practice
  • Development of new proposed port pavement detailing and techniques

Fjori was commissioned by Volker Stevin’s sister company, Volker Fitzpatrick, to provide advice to the existing consultancy team on heavy duty paving for ports and specifically the detailing of concrete block paving.

The port paving industry had experienced a number of premature failures of block paved surfaces laid out over cement bound bases, and to ensure this did not happen at the new berth, Fjori was asked to evaluate current industry practice in all sectors of heavy duty paving, and advise on measure to mitigate the risks of premature failure.

Completion of the 190-metre extension increased the port’s capability to berth two of the world’s largest containerships simultaneously. At the time, commenting on the project, Clemence Cheng, Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited Chief Executive Officer said: “The Berth 9 extension represents the latest phase of development at the Port of Felixtowe. Our programme of continued investment has ensured that the UK remains a destination for direct calls by the latest generation of mega-ships”.