Port of Tilbury 2020/21 As featured in the Port of London Authority Handbook The Port of Tilbury is London’s major port, providing fast, modern distribution services. The port offers excellent connectivity to and from the Capital and across the South East. A dynamic and diverse port with expertise in handling paper and forest products, short and deep sea containers and ro-ro, grain and bulk commodities, construction and building materials, cruise vessels and recyclables. LONDON’S MAJOR PORT telephone: 0044 (0)1375 852 200 www.forthports.co.uk New port at the centre of a European rail network. While the public gaze and political route and the possibility to expand into a key role to play. Regardless of short- discourse has been fixed on tackling the other northern European locations, it also term depressed consumer and business coronavirus and preparing for Brexit, one provides a critical low carbon delivery demand, the legally binding framework to of Britain’s major ports has launched the alternative through our new rail connection. tackle these important matters remains. latest phase to its expanding footprint. Tens of trains a day transit across The pursuit of net zero carbon The Port of Tilbury is already the Europe to P&O’s terminal at Zeebrugge emissions and the enshrining of air quality number one port in the UK across a to feed their services to Britain. This pan targets in the Environment Bill before range of cargoes – from construction European rail network now has a truly Parliament, combined with the UK’s materials and grain, paper to forestry worthy UK leg. leading global role at the UN’s COP26 Intermodal products – and now it has the country’s In recent years through sustained summit in Glasgow in November, will only largest unaccompanied freight ferry investment, the Forth Ports Group has heighten pressure on supply chains to terminal to boot. decided to resurrect its rail offering. At find lower impact solutions. On 25th May, P&O’s first vessel, Tilbury, this has principally been through Truly multi-modal delivery solutions – Wilhemine, called at the port’s new the creation of a dedicated bulk terminal road, rail and barge – are key ingredients terminal on the 152-acre extension site, for movements of aggregates, spoil and when examining the best way to deliver Tilbury2. The first call marks the rapid cullet glass, and a domestic intermodal change throughout supply chains. conections transformation of the former power offering to South Wales, The North West, Forth Ports Group’s 25 year vision for station and the next chapter in the The Midlands and Scotland supporting Tilbury2 commits the port to play a central decade long growth of the route the retail, e-commerce, food and drink role in supporting the country’s efforts to to-and-from Zeebrugge. markets. achieve net zero through providing The switch to a river berth provides Tilbury2 provides additional capability. genuine multi-modal capability from the significant headroom for growth. P&O The site has a rail terminal capable of outset. can bring in larger vessels, deliver faster loading 775m length trains for both bulk With one eye on the future, it’s vessel turnaround times and – most and intermodal customers. This will be important to mention the B word, again. importantly – get containers and trailers integral to the business model of P&O and In keeping with the rest of the Port of onto an inland barge or the M25 and the its customers, alongside Tarmac, who will Tilbury site, the Tilbury2 terminal holds motorway network in under an hour. occupy the northern section of the site, in Authorised Economic Operator trusted While this enhanced offering will support six months’ time. trader status and has access to all the further growth through the Zeebrugge Breakdown of supply chains, border inspection facilities required for unpredictable industrial relations and additional customs and border checks increasing lorry driver shortages has led should they be required. In a sense, the many to examine the resilience of their terminal is “Brexit ready”, whatever the delivery options, particularly for vital outcome of the EU-UK negotiations. goods like food, drink and medicines. As the closest major port to Europe’s largest consumer market, Tilbury is the logical outlet in the search for reliability and speed. As the public demand more action to abate climate change and tackle poor air quality in urban areas, rail delivery has Rail is a critical low carbon delivery alternative, with existing unitised operations running from Tilbury’s London Container Terminal. Inset photo: CGI image of the new train service at Tilbury2. 2 Port of Tibury supplement Port of Tilbury supplement 3 Tilbury2, built on 152 acres of former Tilbury Power Station land, Award-winning, record-breaking and will start work at a new state-of-the-art development has also encompassed will be the UK’s largest unaccompanied ro-ro freight ferry port. rapidly expanding: the Port of Tilbury construction materials aggregate terminal roundabout and road upgrades, invest- ticked all the boxes in 2019. But that was (CMAT). ment in footpaths, cycleways and the just the start. For this multi-talented, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s largest historic Tilbury Fort, and contributions flexible port, 2020 will be a real unaccompanied ro-ro freight ferry port and towards the Tilbury-Gravesend foot ferry game-changer. will play a vital role in providing additional and heritage projects in Gravesend. For a real example of fast-tracking, look capacity after Brexit. P&O will operate On top of that, there has been really no further than Tilbury2. This massive services to Zeebrugge – efficiency will be significant environmental and wildlife expansion of the Port of Tilbury received underpinned by a new linkspan bridge mitigation work, an area in which Tilbury development consent from the Secretary built into the river, with a pontoon able has previously demonstrated its Tilbury… of State for Transport in February 2019. to handle two larger ferries at once. The commitment. For example, a nine-acre Having carried out extensive ecology site terminal will provide 50 acres for trailers water vole park has been built and a clearance work and ground preparation, and containers. badger sett is being provided on the Forth Ports Group, which owns the Port Tilbury2 will provide the country’s largest Tilbury2 site. of Tilbury, was ready to press the button. construction materials processing hub – to Immediately after Forth Ports’ Construction work began within a few be managed by Tarmac, it will include a application for a development consent weeks. new railhead which can accommodate the order (DCO) was granted, the construction and there’s In May 2020 the first P&O ferry called at longest freight trains of 775 metres. Rail the newly built riverside, ro-ro terminal on will also be an important option for trailers the northern part of the site and Tarmac and containers heading to and from the ro-ro terminal. Tilbury2, built on 152 acres of former Tilbury Power Station land, will operate as Aerial image of the opening more a satellite of the established port. Its of Tilbury2 new ro-ro terminal. 4 Port of Tibury supplement Port of Tilbury supplement 5 group Graham was appointed for the Association (NIPA) award for ‘Best Construction, construction, strategy and the way we position by sea, and then moved from here into Tilbury has been crucial Tilbury2 project. Project’ for Tilbury2. The award construction ourselves with construction materials central London by river.” in supporting projects “We made very good progress on recognised best practice in the DCO Where better to have a hub for handling and use of the river.” The Port of Tilbury offers a range of construction through 2019,” says Port of process for a Nationally Significant construction materials than Tilbury – easily Tilbury has been crucial in supporting in-dock services provided by the bulk such as Tideway and the Tilbury Asset & Site Director, Paul Dale. Infrastructure Project (NSIP). accessible for bringing in raw materials projects such as Tideway and the terminal, Cemex cement plant and several Battersea Power Station “We are on target to open the ro-ro This was a great reward for hard work and perfectly located to feed aggregates Battersea Power Station development and specialised facilities supporting development and is terminal in April and the CMAT in quarter and determination to deliver best practice and other materials direct into London – is very well located to support future major construction consolidation of bricks, very well located to three. The project represents total and to engage with all stakeholders, says sustainably, via river and rail. infrastructure projects such as the Silver- timber and steel. support future major investment of £250 million, including Peter Ward. Tarmac and the Port of Tilbury have town Tunnel and Lower Thames Crossing, An important ‘added extra’ of Tilbury2 acquisition of the site. This is 100 per cent been working together to develop the he adds. “We provide the opportunity to comes in the form of training. Graham, infrastructure projects funded by Forth Ports – it’s a huge level of new CMAT. Deep water will allow ships consolidate materials in Tilbury and move which was awarded the contract for both such as Silvertown investment being made to create new of up to 100,000 tonnes to be handled. them by rail or barge into London, in bulk marine and terrestrial work at the site, has Tunnel and Lower capacity for London, the South East and The terminal will provide for aggregate and as specialised cargo. set up a construction training hub as part Thames Crossing the whole of the UK, and we are receiving processing and manufacturing, including “Our role as a construction hub has of its CSR commitments.