Through its Mechanical/Electrical and Civil Engineering Departments, the Port’s professional engineers, technicians and skilled tradesmen provide the back-bone and essential support to keep Felixstowe operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are constantly aware of the advancing needs of today’s industry.

Mechanical and electrical engineering

The Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Department is responsible for the care and maintenance of some 2,000 major assets. It operates from three strategic workshops, with the flexibility and skills amongst its workforce to cope with any demand that today’s sophisticated equipment places upon them. Each workshop is modern, well equipped with the very latest equipment and is supported by disciplined systems and methods of work. Engineers clearly identify with the needs of their operational counterparts and provide an efficient, cost-effective and fully-integrated service, backed by a modern well equipped stores and purchasing facility.

The Engineering Department’s training programmes have been independently audited in association with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and have been accredited by the Engineering Council as a centre of excellence in support of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering training; this is essential to provide up to date skills to support the improvements in Equipment Technology within the industry. Conscious of the ever-changing demands of technology, the Port trains the majority of its own engineers in the dedicated delivery of both modern apprenticeships and Skills Development training schemes.

The Mechanical/Electrical Department also manages the specification and acquisition of all equipment in conjunction with operational departments. Over the years, the Mechanical/Electrical Departments continue to have a major influence within the industry and throughout the world on the design and specification of some of the most reliable and technically-advanced equipment in use in the port industry today.

An Inspection Department ensures the equipment continues to meet statutory and legal requirements and is maintained to the highest standards of safety and reliability respected throughout the industry.

Civil engineering

The Port’s Civil Engineering Department undertakes the planning and procurement of all development projects, from initial concept and scheme planning, through consents/planning approval processes (including significant inputs to Public Inquiries on major schemes) to the project management of scheme implementation. Its staff possess expertise in the planning and design of container terminals that is recognised throughout the industry.

The Civil Engineering Department is currently managing the construction of Phase 1 of the Felixstowe South Reconfiguration project which, when it opens for operation in 2011, will provide 730 metres of deep-water container quay – the initial phase of the UK’s first new deep-water container terminal in more than 25 years.

In a broader context, Felixstowe Engineering personnel frequently provide input to Hutchison Port Holdings, by means of cost-effective technical input and project management assistance to projects around the globe.

All in all, the Engineering Departments comprise a highly-professional backbone that plays a major role in the development, support and success of the UK’s premier port.