As well as quay construction, the channel approach will be dredged to 14.5m continuous with the extension and alongside the berth to 15m. Costain, which was selected from a shortlist of four major contractors, constructed Felixstowe's previous extension of Trinity Terminal which added 630m of quayside when completed in 1996.

The Port of Felixstowe's ambitions do not end with the latest Trinity Terminal extension. The Port recently announced its intention to develop further deepwater container berth capacity by converting two ro-ro berths made redundant by the unexpected decision of P&O North Sea Ferries to leave Felixstowe. The plans also include conversion of the Old Dock Basin to container use and upgrading container facilities in the southern part of the Port.

These works, which could cost up to £300m, may see a relatively easy passage through the planning consent process as they involve redeveloping existing facilities within port boundaries. This is in accordance with UK Government policy on sustainable development, which could result in the new facility being operational by late 2005. It would increase quay length in this part of the Port by nearly 1,000m for a total of 1,400m.

Added to the 2,500m of quay which will be available at Trinity Terminal, this would give Felixstowe nearly 4km of deepwater container facilities, increasing Port capacity by 1.5 million TEU to 5.2 million TEU per annum.

Felixstowe's announcement had resonance in the context of a perceived box handling capacity shortage in the UK and could effect three other major port development proposals currently subject to Public Inquiries.

Felixstowe's plans were submitted as evidence in the closing days of a Public Inquiry on proposals to build a new container terminal at Dibden Bay in the rival ABP Port of Southampton.

Also seeking approval are P&O Ports for their London Gateway plan at the former Shell Haven terminal on London's River Thames and a proposal by Felixstowe's operator Hutchison Ports UK to build a £300 million facility on a greenfield site at nearby Bathside Bay. The Port of Felixstowe's latest contributions to national capacity take pressure off the Government to rush decisions on these other proposals.

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