Shenzhen: London Gateway, the much touted UK box terminal set to open in Q4 next year, has held a series of roadshows in Asia as it looks to drum up business in the competitive north European boxport scene. With a simple message of ‘Ship closer, save money’ the DP World-controlled facility is marketing itself by maintaining it is closer to two-thirds of the UK market than all its major competitors in terms of ports that can handle the world’s largest containerships. This will bring significant road haulage savings for shippers, officials at the terminal maintain.
Located on the north bank of the Thames to the east of London the £1.5bn facility will have an initial throughput of 1.6m teu, set to rise to 3.5m subject to demand. The roadshow has seen teams from London Gateway visit Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Taipei and Seoul with Singapore scheduled for Friday.
“The UK has an inadequate number of berths for large boxships,” Xavier Woodward, the terminal’s communications manager, told SinoShip News.
Last night London Gateway officially launched www.china.londongateway.com – its portal to attract Chinese business. [17/10/12]
