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 & 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 will be 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 AP Moller subsidiary, Norfolkline, on their four vessel service providing 22 sailings weekly to Vlaardingen in the Netherlands.

These four vessels, Maersk Anglia, Maersk Flanders, Maersk Importer and Exporter have been purpose built and developed for the Felixstowe – Vlaardingen route and are each capable of carrying 120 trailers with a high reefer component. Two of these will be replaced next year with Norfolkline’s V class vessels, the Maersk Voyager and Maersk Vlaardingen. These are capable of carrying 174 trailers each.

Norfolkline’s development of the new facility at Vlaardingen near Rotterdam became operational during 2006 and it is expected that this will lead to further volume growth through Felixstowe in future.