The development will include the construction of an in-river vessel berth and a floating pontoon. These upgrades will cater to a variety of cargo, including automotives, paper reels, timber, construction machinery, building materials, project cargo, agribulks, and steel.
According to Peel Ports, the construction phase is set to begin in March 2025, with the removal of existing infrastructure followed by piling and pontoon installation. The new berth is expected to become operational by summer 2025.
“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 £30 million project not only shows our ambition to grow our offering to a range of industries, but it also represents the next stage of significant investment into the port’s infrastructure,” commented Port Director Richard Goffin.
The project will enable the port to handle Quarter Ramp vessels on both sides of the pontoon and Stern Ramp vessels on the adjacent berth, improving operational flexibility.
Sheerness is a key hub for the automotive sector, processing around 300,000 vehicles annually. The new berth will further support customers such as Volkswagen and CEVA, who use the port as a primary base for Southern UK operations. Adjacent berths freed by the new infrastructure will increase capacity for other cargo types, benefiting industries such as construction and paper.
This investment follows Finnlines’ recent introduction of a freight service from Finland to Sheerness, utilizing three hybrid RoRo vessels with a capacity of 5,800 lane metres each, equivalent to approximately 400 trailers. The service provides connections to Belgium, Spain, and Ireland, offering shorter transit times and enhanced cargo capabilities.