VSBW, a joint venture between VolkerStevin and Boskalis Westminster, was appointed as the lead contactor to extend the existing berth 9 by 190 metres. Now complete, the works increased the combined lengths of Berths 8 & 9 to 920 metres, giving the port even greater flexibility to berth the world's largest container ships.

Works to create the new berth and its approaches involved dredging over one million cubic metres of material to enable a steel piled quay wall to be built.

The reclamation of land back from the sea began in April 2014 with the mobilisation of dredging equipment. A piled cell was constructed and filled during tidal conditions. Works to the berth also involved the laying of tracks to enable three new ship-to-shore cranes to operate along the extension.

Eighty 18,000+TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit) ships have already been handled at the port in 2015 and the 190-metre extension increases the port’s capability to berth two of the world’s largest containerships simultaneously.

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 Felixstowe. Our programme of continued investment has ensured that the UK remains a destination for direct calls by the latest generation of mega-ships.

“We are committed to ensuring we offer the best facilities and the highest possible levels of service and productivity to all our customers. The new facilities being opened today will help us deliver on this commitment and ensure that the Port of Felixstowe remains the Port of Britain.”