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Saturday, 04 Feb 2012
RO-RO OPERATIONS
DOOLEY TERMINAL

Ro-Ro cargo operations continue to form an integral part of the daily activities of the Port of Felixstowe.

These activities are centred on Ro-Ro berths 3 and 4. These two berths form the Ro-Ro component of the Dooley Terminal which provides common-user Ro-Ro capacity, with lock-free access, rapid mooring/un-mooring, and secure ISPS compliant terminal facilities, including a high standard of surfacing and security fencing and sophisticated camera systems for the recording of cargo condition through the gatehouse complex. Ro-Ro berths 1 and 2 have been demolished and the previous P&O North Sea Ferries terminal has been incorporated into the new Felixstowe South container terminal.

Berth 3 has a 174m quay, with a minimum depth alongside of 7.3m and incorporates an elevating, dual lane, Ro-Ro bridge 43.6m long, 9.1m wide with an end width of 17m and load capacity of 140 tonnes. The berth can be accessed at all states of the tides by bow and stern loading vessels up to 146m in length with a beam of 24.4m.

Berth 4 provides deep-sea, Ro-Ro and container handling facilities. It has a 214m quay equipped with a 140 tonne capacity; double width, elevating Ro-Ro bridge with a minimum depth alongside of 9.5m.

Ro-Ro operations represent 12% of total Felixstowe volume and are predominantly focussed on providing a high level of service and commitment to DFDS Seaways, on their three vessel service providing 16 sailings weekly to Vlaardingen in the Netherlands.

The three vessels currently operating on this route are the Flandria Seaways, purpose built and developed for the Felixstowe - Vlaardingen route, capable of carrying 121 trailers with a high reefer component, and the TOR Britannia and TOR Suecia, both capable of carrying 177 trailers each.