Work on Bathside Bay is a step closer to becoming a reality, as the first phase of port extensions at Felixstowe gets under way.

Harwich, which has ten-year planning consent for a container terminal development, will be next on the list of work for Hutchison Ports, once the extension at the neighbouring port is completed.

The first stage of construction work at Felixstowe is now under way and is expected to be up and running by September 2010.

An additional 730 metres of deep-water quay, dredged to 16 metres alongside; will be created and the quay will be equipped with seven quayside cranes, able to accommodate the largest container ships in the world.

Phase two will then begin, which is expected to be operational by 2014.