Peel Ports Group is investing £30 million into the development of a new RoRo (Roll-on, Roll-off) berth at the Port of Sheerness to meet growing demand from new and existing customers.
The project will see a new in-river vessel berth and floating pontoon developed, which will increase capacity for RoRo cargo handling at the port, catering for larger vessels exceeding 230m LOA.
The new berth and pontoon will accommodate RoRo vessels arriving at the port, carrying commodities such as automotives, paper reels and timber, construction machinery and building materials, project cargo, agribulks and steel.
With on-site construction set to begin in March 2025, the development will support the continued growth of customers such as Volkswagen and CEVA, which use Sheerness as the primary location for their Southern UK operations.
Currently in the design and manufacturing phase, construction for the project will begin next year with the removal of existing infrastructure before piling is installed, followed by the installation of a new pontoon. The new berth is expected to be operational in the summer of 2025.
In addition to supporting larger vessels, the pontoon will support Quarter Ramp vessels on both sides, plus Stern Ramp vessels on the adjacent berth.
The Port of Sheerness plays a crucial role in supporting various sectors, with the port designed to connect the UK with mainland Europe and the rest of the world, helping to deliver strong, robust supply chains for a range of sectors.
This is especially evident in the automotive industry, where the port processes approximately 300,000 vehicles annually.
The new berth and pontoon highlights Peel Ports’ ambition to deliver a comprehensive automotive service, including a proposed rail siding connected to the main port estate via the Wildfire Bridge.
The automotive industry is just one sector that will be positively impacted, with the construction and paper industries benefiting from the new infrastructures and adjacent berths being freed up to increase volume capacity for various cargos.
Richard Goffin, port director of Peel Ports Great Yarmouth and London Medway, said: “The Port of Sheerness plays a hugely important role in the handling and processing of a broad range of commodities, whether it is automobiles, paper or construction materials, ensuring that they reach their destination without delay.
“This £30 million project not only shows our ambition to grow our offering to a range of industries, but it also represents the next stage of significant investment into the port’s infrastructure which will bolster our position as a leader in handling RoRo vessels.”
Peel Ports’ investment in the new berth comes after Finnlines launched a new freight service in September from Finland to the Port of Sheerness, with further connections available to Belgium, Spain and Ireland, which will be operated with three Finneco-class hybrid RoRo vessels.
With each vessel holding cargo capacity of 5,800 lane metres, equivalent to around 400 trailers, the service improves the route network, providing customers with shorter transit times and increased cargo capacity, as well as enabling faster and more efficient loading and unloading operations.
