Felixstowe Docker

18/09/2025

🚨 Port of Felixstowe expands autonomous truck fleet with order for 34 additional units:

Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe has confirmed an order for a further 34 Autonomous Trucks (ATs) from Shanghai Westwell Technology Co. Ltd (Westwell), doubling its fleet and cementing its position as a leader in port automation.

The first 34 ATs, deployed successfully early this year into operation at the port’s Trinity Terminal alongside conventionally driven trucks, represented Europe’s first ever successful use of ATs in mixed traffic mode operation.

Commenting on the order, Clemence Cheng, Executive Director of Hutchison Ports and Port of Felixstowe CEO, said:

“We are proud to be leading the way in autonomous operations in ports. Doubling our fleet of ATs will deliver even greater efficiency and resilience to our operation. These new units will feature enhanced sensor technology, enabling even greater operational performance for our customers.”

“The continued scaling up of this project has been made possible by the recent introduction of a private 5G network at the Port of Felixstowe. As well as improving operational consistency and efficiency, the increased use of battery-powered ATs will significantly support our ambition to achieve Net-Zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035.”

Kenny Tan, Founder and Chairman of Westwell, said:

“We’re very pleased to mark this next milestone with the second batch of 34 Westwell’s ATs and the go-live of a battery swapping station. Having the port fully automated with ATs shows how far we’ve come in terms of empowering ports’ smart operation.

“None of this would have been possible without the strong partnership between the Port of Felixstowe and Westwell, which has been key to making such a pioneering project successful.

“We truly believe that with the further strengthening of the port’s network infrastructure, Westwell’s ATs and smart energy replenishment system will continue to enhance operational efficiency and accelerate the port’s transition toward its Net-Zero emissions objectives. Collaboratively, we are shaping the future of smart port operations.”

The port’s 5G network is one of the largest private networks of its kind in the UK. It provides fast, reliable and secure communication and control systems for the ATs as well as for a wide range of conventional equipment.

A newly commissioned automated battery swap station allows ATs to exchange depleted power units for fully charged ones in just five to six minutes – without manual intervention. This ensures maximum fleet availability and minimal disruption to operations.

The port’s ATs are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including 128-line LiDAR, 360-degree camera vision, monocular and stereo cameras with radar, delivering world-class levels of safety and performance.

17/02/2025

Harwich Haven Authority has donated £20,000 to the Harwich Harbour Fisherman’s Association to enable its members to purchase new safety equipment for their vessels. . .

Your Go-To Source for Port of Felixstowe News & Industry Insights | Your Port, Your News, Your Voice.

02/08/2024

New RHIDES cards and biometric authentication at Port of Felixstowe

At the Port of Felixstowe, we are getting closer to the launch of our new RHIDES system which will use a new type of biometric authentication process which will replace the handscan.

We would like to keep you as up to date as possible by sending emails with progress updates.

If you would like to sign up for these emails please use the QR Code below or send a request to join the mailing list via email: [email protected]

18/03/2024

12/03/2024

MSC MICHEL CAPPELLINI

06/03/2024

Today marks 37 years since The MS Herald of Free Enterprise, a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry, capsized shortly after departing the Belgian port of Zeebrugge on the evening of March 6, 1987, resulting in the loss of 193 passengers and crew members.

Owned by Townsend Thoresen, the ferry was designed for efficient loading and unloading on the competitive Dover to Calais route, lacking watertight compartments, a common feature at the time. Departing with its bow door open, the vessel quickly flooded, tilting onto its side within minutes. The immediate cause of the capsizing was attributed to negligence by the assistant boatswain, who failed to close the bow door while asleep in his cabin. However, the official inquiry assigned more responsibility to the supervisors and a prevailing culture of inadequate communication within Townsend Thoresen.

Following salvage efforts, the ship was sold to Naviera SA Kingstown on September 30, 1987, and renamed Flushing Range before being transported to Taiwan for scrapping on March 22, 1988.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, enhancements have been made to RORO vessel design, including watertight ramps, indicators for bow door position, and the prohibition of undivided decks.

05/03/2024

A container vessel became lodged under Rotterdam’s Willemsbrug Bridge for hours before being dislodged, having attempted to pass beneath without verifying clearance. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries.

Upon collision with the Willemsbrug Bridge, the vessel shed several containers and remained trapped for an extended duration. Ongoing assessments are being conducted by specialists to determine the extent of damage sustained by both the ship and the bridge.

Rijkwaterstaat confirmed that at least two containers fell from the vessel during the incident. These containers, fortunately empty, are being swiftly removed from the water to prevent hazards to other vessels.

Authorities have closed the bridge for evaluation, focusing on potential damage to gas pipes and electricity lines. Efforts are underway to reopen the bridge promptly.

This incident isn't the first of its kind; the bridge has been struck by vessels before, notably the German-flagged ship "Monika Deymann" in 2022 and 2020. In each instance, containers were dislodged from the vessel.

The fluctuating tide alters the clearance beneath the bridge, making it crucial for ship skippers to gauge whether passage is safe for their vessels.

04/03/2024

: A captain has pleaded guilty to operating his vessel under the influence of alcohol at the Felixstowe port.

Zbigniew Chowaniec, a Polish national, was apprehended on January 15 upon the arrival of his container ship at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk.

At Ipswich Magistrates' Court, it was revealed that a breathalyser test conducted on the 65-year-old indicated he was nearly four times over the legal alcohol limit.

He entered his guilty plea on January 16, and his case has been referred to the Crown Court for sentencing.

Chowaniec served as the master of MSC Roshney V, which had voyaged from the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Belgium, and was en route to the port of Canakkale, Turkey.

According to testimony at the magistrates' court, port officials boarded the 965ft (294m) long vessel around 07:15 GMT and noticed a strong smell of alcohol emanating from Chowaniec.

Following his arrest, Chowaniec underwent a breathalyser test at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre, revealing a reading of 93 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, surpassing the prescribed legal limit.

The legal alcohol threshold for seafarers, as stipulated by the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping Convention, stands at 25 micrograms in 100ml of breath.

After the January 16 hearing, Chowaniec was granted conditional bail and was obliged to surrender his passport.

(PHOTO: JOE GIDDENS/PA MEDIA)
Felixstowe News

04/03/2024

: Plans have been submitted to convert land in Brightwell for the storage of up to 1,200 shipping containers from the Port of Felixstowe.

Foxburrow Group Storage has filed an application with East Suffolk Council to alter the land use at Foxburrow Farm on Waldringfield Road within the village.

According to planning documents available on the council's online portal, a logistics firm affiliated with the Suffolk port aims to utilize the land adjacent to Brightwell Barns to store containers destined to return to Felixstowe.

The application stems from an inquiry by the operators of a logistics company based at the Port of Felixstowe regarding the use of the land for container storage.

The proposal entails the storage of containers awaiting return to the port and subsequent transfer, with no handling of goods involved.

Outlined in the documents, the storage area would be enclosed within compound fencing to ensure security and containment within the site boundaries.

The site is designated to accommodate between 1,000 to 1,200 containers for storage purposes.

04/03/2024

Yangzijiang Shipbuilding reports a record high profit RMB4.1bn in 2023, an increase of 57% year-on-year. http://ow.ly/ykIe105kffN

[In the news] Yangzijiang Shipbuilding reports a record high profit RMB4.1bn in 2023, an increase of 57% year-on-year. http://ow.ly/ykIe105kffN

04/03/2024

BC Ferries have announced they will be introducing seven new ferries and have provided the concept design for them. . .

We're building up to seven new vessels that will enter service between 2029 – 2032 on our busiest routes servicing , and the .

Here's a first look at conceptual renders of this new class of vessel.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/xu6z50QHYrL

Each vessel will carry up to 360 vehicles and 2,100 passengers - that’s up to 44% more vehicles and up to 75% more passengers than the retiring vessels. The new vessels will provide more capacity across the system and improve how we get our customers where they need to be.

The design calls for engines capable of using bio and renewable fuels, and includes a battery-hybrid propulsion system that will allow for conversion to full battery-electric operation once shore-based recharging infrastructure becomes available.

Today, we issued a Request for Supplier Qualification (RFSQ) for the New Major Vessels program. The RFSQ is available through the international shipbroker Clarksons, as well as on bcbid.gov.bc.ca. It will close on March 22, 2024. Qualified shipyards will then have the opportunity to take part in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, currently expected to occur in the summer of 2024.

“These vessels – green, efficient and standardized – represent the future of ferry travel in our province. They will significantly increase daily capacity, provide an enhanced customer experience, improve reliability and reduce environmental impacts.” – Nicolas Jimenez, BC Ferries’ President & CEO.

Learn more here:
https://ow.ly/ntAQ50QGuVb