London Gateway open for business

Its arrival heralds a new era for south Essex with the beginning of operations at the port’s first berth.

The London Gateway superport, in Corringham, will be up-and-running after ten years of planning, building and developing at the brownfield site, which was home to an oil refinery until 1999.

Eventually 32,000-plus jobs will be created - and last night's symbolic arrival of the 58,000 tonne vessel from south Africa laden with wine and fruit has been a long time coming.

Kamal Aggarwal, a partner at law firm Thomson Snell and Passmore, who have been heavily involved at all levels of regeneration in the Thames Gateway, said: “The arrival of the ship is a significant landmark in the development of the UK’s first deep water port for generations and also for the regeneration of the Thames Gateway.

The MOL Caledon - the first ship to arrive at London Gateway on business under the port's giant cranes (Pic: @LondonPortAuthority)

The MOL Caledon arriving at the London Gateway port at aroun 11pm last night (Pic: @LondonPortAuthority)

“The development represents a huge opportunity for job creation and economic development, both at a local and national level.”

Labour councillor Andy Smith, responsible for regeneration at Thurrock Council said: “The London Gateway project is of enormous importance to the economy and regeneration of this borough. Together, the London Gateway port and Logistics Park will provide thousands of jobs. It is one of the largest investment projects in the UK.”

MOL UK logistics, the port’s first customer, owns the vessel MOL Caledon which will be shipping in goods on behalf of wine importer JF Hillebrand and fruit importer Chingford Fruits.

An artist's impression of the port and logistics park

London Gateway facts:

-Thursday marks the operational opening of the first of six berths at London Gateway
-The port’s second berth is likely to be opened in April 2014 and the third berth opened in 2015.
-Plans to open the fourth, fifth and sixth berths will be dependant on market demand
-The first berth will be able to handle 1.3million containers per year.
-Ten thousand contsruction jobs have been created by the port. The current 300-strong permanent workforce is set to increase to 450 next year and will be around 2,000 by the time the port is complete.
-A further 10,000 jobs will be created once the logistics park is fully operational.
-There will be 24 quay cranes - the tallest quay cranes in the world at 137m - by the time all six berths are open. There are currently seven in place.
-The port will be capable of accommodating ships that are 180,000 tonnes, more than three times the size of the first ship the MOL Caledon.