A MULTI-MILLION pound plan to deepen Harwich Harbour to make room for mega-ships has been given the green light.

Harwich Haven Authority has announced its licence application to carry out major improvement works - which includes increasing the depth of Harwich Harbour - has been approved by the Marine Management Organisation.

It comes a year after the authority applied for consent from the organisation to increase the harbour’s depth and the approach to the channel from 14.5 metres to 16 metres.

The £90 million project will ensure the port will continue to cope with the increasing numbers of supersized container ships in operation and under construction in the future.

The mega-ships are about 400 metres in length and 58 metres wide. To put it in perspective the Shard, in London, is 310 metres high.

The MMO decision follows extensive environmental studies and public consultation with stakeholders.

The improvements to the harbour will also secure future trade for the local, regional and national economies and ensure the Haven maintains its role as the county’s premier container base.

The project is scheduled to start next year following a tendering process to appoint a contractor to carry out the improvement works.

Neil Glendinning, chief executive officer of Harwich Haven Authority, said: “I am delighted the MMO has granted us the licence to carry out these significant improvements to the Haven’s access channel and harbour.

“This development is critical to the local, regional and national economies and will deliver to our customers the flexibility of access to the port that they need.

“The global ports sector is increasingly competitive and will become even more so post Brexit so it’s vital that port operators in the Haven can compete as the growth in the number of mega-sized vessels continues.”

The last time the harbour was dredged, to its current depth, was about 20 years ago.

The Marine Management Organisation has been contacted for comment.

To find out more visit hha.co.uk.