Pontoon launch marks milestone in Tilbury2 development

A floating pontoon for the new Tilbury2 ro-ro terminal development at Port of Tilbury has been launched

The pontoon, measuring 55m x 45m, was launched from a slipway earlier this month from Ravestein BV yard in Deest, Holland. The pontoon finishing works is expected to be completed in October, when it will then be towed by tug along with the linkspan bridge, ready for installation before the end of the year.

Paul Scott, contracts director for Graham, said: “Once complete, the floating pontoon will provide large scale capacity for the loading and discharge of ro-ro vessels at the terminal, enabling a huge increase in the volume of cargo being transported across the quay. The economic and social benefits of this scheme, not just locally, but nationally, cannot be understated and this launch is an exciting milestone in the scheme’s progression.”

Peter Ward, Commercial Director at The Port of Tilbury said: “The launch of the pontoon is a significant part of the creation of our new port Tilbury2 and we are pleased that the construction is on track for Spring 2020. When operational, T2 will be the largest unaccompanied Ro-Ro terminal in the UK.”

The Tilbury2 project consists of the construction of a new port terminal and associated facilities on land at the former Tilbury Power Station on the north bank of the River Thames at Tilbury.

When operational in Spring 2020, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s largest unaccompanied freight ferry port, the country’s biggest construction processing hub and will see the creation of a new significantly larger rail head which can accommodate the longest freight trains of 775m.

The project is central to the Port of Tilbury’s £1B investment programme during 2012-20, which has seen it double the size of its business in the past 10 years and is projected to double the volume of cargo across the quay (from 16 Mt to 32 Mt) and increase direct employment (from 3,500 to 12,000 jobs) over the next 10-15 years.

P&O Ferries has already announced a launch unaccompanied ro-ro service into the new terminal, from Calais. This will be Calais’ first pure freight ro-ro service and the port’s first ro-ro service not associated with Dover.

To watch a video of the pontoon launch, see: