The first ship ever to berth at London's new deepwater container terminal, 'MV Wieniawski' also delivered four auto stacking cranes from China.
Due to formally open in Q4 2013, London Gateway will be the UK’s first 21st Century major deep-sea container port and Europe’s largest logistics park. Owned and operated by DP World and situated on the north bank of the River Thames, London Gateway will provide unrivalled deep-sea shipping access to the largest consumer markets in the UK.
The arrival of this first ship, MV Wieniawski, was marked with a ceremony where London Gateway CEO Simon Moore and Harbour Master, Colin Hitchcock, presented the ship’s captain, Capt. D. Musil and Port of London Authority Pilot, Simon Liley, each with a bronze model dhow to commemorate the significant event.
Simon Moore, CEO of London Gateway, said: “Historically, London has played a major role in the world’s shipping industry and today marks the start of a return to former glories. Soon, London will once again be able to boast one of the world’s most advanced ports and have regained its place at the heart of the UK’s trade.
He continued: “By building a new port for the UK which is closer to the major population and distribution centres such as London, Birmingham and Manchester, we can make supply chains more efficient and reduce costs for shippers across the UK.”
Port of London Authority pilot, Simon Liley, added: “It’s a great honour to have played a part in such an historic occasion. Everything went to plan and having undertaken numerous practice simulations for the berthing of the world’s largest ships at London Gateway, I’m now looking forward to their arrival when the port opens in 2013.”