EastPort plan to offer a long term concession to operate the existing port and the new outer harbour, linked to the transfer of the Port Authority's substantial land assets. It also enables the European Commission to undertake final consideration of European funding for the project.

Following a competitive tender, Athens based Superfast Ferries, part of the Attica Group, are preferred partners to establish a daily freight and passenger service to the Netherlands, with a planned crossing time of five hours or less. Contract negotiations are also underway with other prospective users of the outer harbour, including bulk general cargo handlers.

EastPort's executive director Peter Hardy said, 'The Harbour Revision Order is, effectively, planning permission for the project so this is another step forward for EastPort. We have made a number of contacts with potential users and commercial investors and we will now be able to take these discussions forward.

'We aim to see the project under construction in around 18 month. Great Yarmouth is now significantly closer to re-entering the North Sea ro-ro market after a gap of ten years.'

The outer harbour development is linked with plans to operate the daily ferry service to IJmuien and will also meet a regional need for deep water cargo berths to extend the port's role in offshore energy and general cargo handling. Offering the shortest North Sea crossing to the Netherlands, EastPort is ideally positioned for traffic between the English Midlands and Northern Europe and is designed to service the growing freight and passenger market with purpose designed facilities.

MJ Information No: 21010