Peel Ports Group is investing £30m into the development of a new roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) berth at the Port of Sheerness to meet growing demand from new and existing customers.

The project will increase capacity for RoRo cargo handling at the port, catering for larger vessels exceeding 230m load overall (LOA).

The new berth and pontoon will cater for RoRo vessels arriving at the port, carrying commodities such as automotives, paper reels and timber, construction machinery and building materials, project cargo, agribulks, and steel.

On-site construction is set to begin in March 2025 with the removal of existing infrastructure before piling is installed, followed by installation of a new pontoon. The new berth is expected to be operational in the summer of 2025.

In addition to supporting larger vessels, the pontoon will support Quarter Ramp vessels on both sides, plus Stern Ramp vessels on the adjacent berth.

Richard Goffin, port director at Peel Ports Great Yarmouth and London Medway, said: “The Port of Sheerness plays a hugely important role in the handling and processing of a broad range of commodities, whether it is automobiles, paper, or construction materials, ensuring that they reach their destination without delay.

“This £30m project not only shows our ambition to grow our offering to a range of industries, it also represents the next stage of significant investment into the port’s infrastructure which will bolster our position as a leader in handling RoRo vessels.”

Peel Ports’ investment in the new berth comes after Finnlines launched a new freight service in September from Finland to the Port of Sheerness, with further connections available to Belgium, Spain, and Ireland, which will be operated with three Finneco-class hybrid RoRo vessels.

 

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