Located outside the locks at the port on the River Humber, the facility can accommodate deepsea ro-ro vessels up to 250m long, 34m wide, and with a 10m draft, including the latest tonnage in the DFDS Tor Line fleet. The new ro-ro berths complement the three dockside berths already operated by the ferry company inside the locks.

The MacGregor linkspan comprises a 108m by 30m floating pontoon designed to accommodate up to three ships berthing side by side with various stern ramp configurations. The pontoon is connected to the shore terminal by two three lane bridges, each 70m long by 15m wide, allowing all the berthed ships to be loaded and discharged simultaneously. The facility was built to and will be maintained to Lloyds Register classification requirements.

Additional capacity provided by the outer harbour development will provide opportunities for the established dockside and new riverside terminal to boost its ro-ro and lo-lo activities.

In another European project, MacGregor is supplying two hydraulically operated linkspans for Norfolk Line's new ro-ro terminal in the Vulcaanhaven at Vlaardingen in the Netherlands.

Due to open this autumn, the terminal is strategically located next to the A4 Highway and the Benelux tunnel and will significantly improve the ferry operator's ship and shoreside logistics.

Behind the linkspans, some 10 hectares of space will be available for trailer parking, double that of Norfolk Line's existing Scheveningen Terminal which the new terminal will replace.

Each 29m wide by 20m long linkspan, designed to Dutch Bridge code, will be suitable for berthing ships up to 220m long and 30m wide. Operation will be effected by twin hydraulic cylinder arrangements from towers on each side of the linkspan.

Further improvement in capacity at the new terminal is envisaged through a possible third linkspan.

MJInformation No: 21925