The members of the SAECS consortium – Maersk, Safmarine, Mitsui OSK Lines and Deutsche Afrika Linien – have informed customers that SAECS will switch its UK port of call from Tilbury to London Gateway in November, with the first call due by the MOL Caledon on 7 November.
SAECS operates eight ships of about 4,500 teu capacity on its service, taking in Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Las Palmas, Rotterdam and Bremerhaven.
While much has been written about the battle between DP World London Gateway and Hutchison Ports UK at Felixstowe, there's been plenty of speculation about Tilbury as a target too – not least because it's only just up the road (and River Thames) from DP World's new port. When DP World sold its one-third interest in Tilbury's deepsea container terminal to Tilbury's owner, Forth Ports, early last year, it seemed clear that the gloves were off.
However, it is fair to say that the real prize London Gateway is looking for is much larger. The port has been built to handle the world's largest containerships on the Asia-Europe trade. Based on comments by the SAECS partners, observers believe other lines may also be on the point of making the move.
"With this change of terminal, the lines aim to secure not only benefits for their clients through the new infrastructure (such as improved rail connections) and access to markets, but also operational advantages which will assist the lines in maintaining schedule integrity and reliability, while enabling you to further streamline your supply chains," said a letter to customers.
Also facing up to the London Gateway challenge is Hutchison's Thamesport, where there have been pluses and minuses. MacAndrews moved some of its services from Tilbury's London Container Terminal to Thamesport earlier this year – but now Evergreen has moved from Thamesport to Felixstowe.
The speculation about the next moves can only intensify.
Meanwhile, speaking of moving and shaking – when Peter Jones retired a few months ago, no one really believed he was going to disappear entirely to spend his time playing golf or doing the garden.
Jones, who previously headed up Mersey Docks & Harbour Company and retired as chief executive of Associated British Ports has been named as the new chairman of the Port of Milford Haven. The Welsh port, which opened two LNG terminals in 2009, handles nearly 30% of Britain's seaborne trade in oil and gas.
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