Shipping giant to move operations from major port

Felixstowe opened its £300m South Quay expansion about 15 years ago

A major container shipping company has announced it will no longer use the Port of Felixstowe for its larger vessels from next year.

Maersk said the changes would take effect in February following a review of its Asia-Europe shipping routes.

The firm said it had concluded the London Gateway on the Thames estuary in Essex was "the most optimal port to serve our customers" in the UK.

It said it expected to share further details "over the next couple of weeks".

Felixstowe has described itself as Britain's busiest container port

In a statement on its website, Maersk said the changes were part of the Gemini Co-operation, which is a review of its network carried out with the Hapag-Lloyd shipping company.

"During this optimisation process... we have concluded that London Gateway is the most optimal port to serve our customers importing/exporting cargo to/from the UK," it said.

"Due to this change, Felixstowe will not be a part of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s shared Gemini network.

"The previously announced Middle East-Europe (London Gateway) and Trans-Atlantic (Southampton) Gemini services remain unchanged."

It added: "There are no changes for Maersk’s own operated services to/from Felixstowe outside the scope of the Gemini Co-operation."

Maersk has not said what this means in terms of the number of its ships that will not dock at Felixstowe any more.

However, the BBC understands the decision means Felixstowe will see about two fewer large vessels at the port each week.

Felixstowe's quayside has the capacity to welcome the world's largest container ships, which can carry upwards of 20,000 containers.

Maersk's smaller ships, which serve shorter sea routes, are still expected to call at the port.

The news comes a month after it was announced £1bn was to be pumped into expanding London Gateway, which opened for business in 2013.

'Cautious' reaction

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Labour MP for Suffolk Coastal, said: "We need to be cautious in our reaction [to this news].

"It's clear that it's disappointing for us, the Port of Felixstowe and the wider community that they [Maersk] have made that decision.

"It is one of the busiest ports in the UK... it has a huge offering both nationally and globally.

"I'll be doing everything I can to make sure it continues to be a global player."

In a statement, the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce said: "Whatever the full commercial rationale for Maersk’s relocation to Thames Gateway, it makes it even more important that the rail and road infrastructure in and out of the Port of Felixstowe is the very best it can be to retain and attract businesses, as competition from other ports looks set only to intensify."

The Thames Gateway container port - at Coryton just west of Canvey Island - opened in 2013

Ernst Schulze, chief executive of ports and terminals at DP World in the UK, which runs London Gateway, said: "Gemini (Maersk & Hapag-Lloyd) choosing London Gateway for their Asia-Europe and Middle East-Europe services is a testament to the investments we’ve made to build an advanced, world-class logistics hub.

"Our unmatched supply chain capabilities, operational reliability, and flexibility demonstrate why Gemini has entrusted us with these key services at London Gateway and their Trans-Atlantic services at Southampton."

The Port of Felixstowe, which is owned Hutchison Ports whose headquarters are in China, has been asked for comment.