Associated British Ports has spent some £40 million preparing for a public inquiry into its proposal to create a new container terminal at Dibden Bay in the Port of Southampton. No sooner did the inquiry finally get underway in November than the 500 acre site, created by the disposal of dredged material over decades in the last century, was included in the newly created New Forest National Park. The decision by the British Government's Countryside Agency creates yet another hurdle for ABP to overcome.

Even plans for a new container facility at Shell Haven on London's River Thames are likely to face a public inquiry despite the ex-oil terminal more closely complying with the Government's favoured brownfield' site status. However, even this status has been called into question. As part of the proposed terminal is currently in the river, the concept of 'bluefield' site has been coined to argue against it.

The net effect of the collective lack of progress is that the UK could face a shortfall of deepwater terminal capacity in as little as three years and works which would be welcomed by the marine construction and related sectors are kept on hold.