The development consent order application for Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal, the £100 million port expansion from ABP, has been made.
National Infrastructure Planning has received the documents outlining the proposal, which will feature a new multi-vessel jetty, terminal buildings, as well as improved hardstanding, a new road bridge over existing infrastructure and access roads. It will have the capacity to handle 800,000 units of North Sea-crossing cargo a year, with potential for weekend passenger trade also factored in. Vessels up to 240m in length and 34m wide have been anticipated, operating on fixed schedules.
The Planning Inspectorate now has 28 days to review the application, which charts the course for a huge 50-year commitment to the Humber from Swedish ferry operator Stena Line. Announced almost a year ago, it was one of the biggest business stories of 2022, with the expansion proposal and then details of the significant deal.
Read more: Big interview with port director Simon Bird as busy month for major expansion dawns
Simon Bird, Humber ports director, told how the application had been submitted earlier this week, as he welcomed stakeholders and media to a trial of hydrogen-powered mobile port plant at the heavily-invested existing Immingham Container Terminal.
“We’ve put a lot of work into the design, and how vessels will operate. It is a very busy area, and the marine team have worked on modelling and are comfortable with it,” he said. “It is a big investment, £100 million - it is long-term infrastructure.”
Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal is a further outer harbour project to future-proof and expand existing operations, where the lock limits the size of vessels capable of entering into the traditional docks. It worked with Danish operator DFDS to deliver a similar scheme almost two decades ago, while Volkswagen was a key partner in Grimsby for the car terminal that stretches out beyond the iconic Dock Tower.
Huge bulk terminals have also been added over the years, including a £130 million site for Drax to handle biomass. The application comes ahead of the start of a public consultation into another significant new facility, set to feed a green hydrogen production plant with ammonia and welcome carbon imports for storage. It is also focused on the east wing of the port.
In the final briefing document sent to the inspectorate ahead of the application, with the actual application documents to be published in due course, ABP said: “The facility is being designed to service the growing North Sea ro-ro freight market including a mixture of accompanied and unaccompanied freight. Unaccompanied freight comprises mainly ro-ro trailers which are left at the port and moved onto and off the ship using tractor units specifically designed for this purpose. Accompanied freight involves lorry drivers accompanying their load, who will be responsible for manoeuvring their vehicle onto and off the ship and will remain on board during the passage.
“During less busy periods, for example at weekends, a ro-ro freight line may offer space and cabins for passengers. Facilities for passenger transit flows may, therefore, need to be included.”
Reasons for the market growth include the need for supply chain resilience, with Brexit concerns over short crossing vulnerability, with the benefits of stronger northern entry points for cargo, as well as the opportunities offered in port-centric manufacturing by the freeport status.
“Ultimately better and more efficient logistical connectivity between the UK and Europe will drive costs down and benefit UK and European consumers,” the statement added.
The plans will involve the resiting of a “small number” of ABP tenants, with all landside work on ABP property and harbour side on Crown Estate seabed already leased by the port operator.
Once accepted, a six month examination begins, ahead of a three month window for the recommendation to be made to the Secretary of State for Transport. Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper, appointed in October, would then have three months to make a decision, with a six week period then following when it can be challenged in the High Court.
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