Port of Felixstowe

The Port of Felixstowe stands on the Suffolk coast in eastern England. It is the United Kingdom’s largest container port, handling nearly half of Britain’s containerised trade. In 2017 it ranked forty-third busiest in the world and eighth in Europe, moving almost four million containers. The main quay stretches for more than two kilometres, served by twenty-nine giant cranes that load and unload ships. Deep channels allow the newest, largest vessels to berth safely alongside. The port began in the 19th century as a modest dock company. Trinity College, Cambridge, once owned much of the land and built the first container terminal in 1967. Early investment in container technology helped Felixstowe overtake rivals and become the country’s top container port by 1980. Today it remains privately owned by Hutchison Port Holdings, with its own police, fire and ambulance services on site. Visitors can watch container ships arrive and depart from viewpoints along the waterfront. Two main terminals, Trinity and Landguard, handle the cargo, while a roll-on/roll-off terminal serves short-sea ferries. Rail connections link each terminal to the national freight network, carrying containers inland. Nearby, the Apostleship of the Sea chaplain offers support to seafarers visiting the port.