DFDS Tor Line and ABP (Associated British Ports) have
agreed that ABP will construct an extension to the present
DFDS NordicTerminal by adding a 50 acre (200,000 sqm) Ro-Ro
container/trailer terminal in a new Outer Harbour with 2-3
Ro-Ro berths in the River Humber outside Immingham
lock. The new berths will be capable of accommodating
vessels of up to 225 m length, 35 m width and 10 m draft at
all stages of the tide and will be the closest Ro-Ro berths
to the North Sea on the Humber. The new Outer Harbour will
provide a higher degree of weather protection than other
more exposed river berths.
ABP will invest in the new Outer Harbour and a fully
surfaced terminal and DFDS will invest in terminal
equipment, buildings and the actual Ro-Ro ramps under a new
25-year agreement. The total investment will be about
£35 million and the construction time will be about 18
months. ABP lodged a Harbour Revision Order application
with the Secretary of State for Transport in 2003 and the
approval is expected shortly, whereafter construction will
commence.
DFDS’ use of Grimsby/Immingham began more than 100 years
ago in 1885 and in 1995 ABP built the new DFDS Nordic
Terminal, following which cargo volumes have almost
doubled. The present DFDS Nordic Terminal is about 110
acres and with the new Outer Harbour Extension DFDS will
have available 160 acres (640,000 sqm) and six Ro-Ro berths
as well as two Lo-Lo container and steel berths.
The new river berths will in particular optimize the
handling of DFDS’ five new Flower Class vessels being built
for its AngloBridge and BritanniaBridge services to
Gothenburg and Esbjerg, which will increase capacity on
both routes by about 40%.
DFDS Tor Line presently handle approximately 35 vessels
weekly in DFDS Nordic Terminal, and this important terminal
extension and further berth capacity will facilitate
further growth.