Proposed development summary

The proposed DSCT can accommodate the largest container vessels currently in operation with none of the delays due to tidal locks at Portbury and Avonmouth.  It is designed to handle future Ultra Large Container Ships (ULCS) of up to 14,000 TEU and 16 metre draught.  

• the terminal will be located on brownfield and reclaimed land at the Avonmouth Dock site of a former oil terminal and oil tanker jetty.
• there will be facilities for deep water berths at all tides,  extensive container handling and storage space , and links to the Port's existing rail and road connections.
• capacity when fully operational will provide throughput of about 1.5 million TEU (twenty-foot-equivalent units) or approximately 1 million containers per annum.  This compares to forecast volumes for the UK of about 20 million TEU by 2030.
• the existing estuary approach channel will be widened and deepened and a turning area created for manoeuvring container vessels.
• the expected timescale is that construction could start in 2010 and the terminal could be operational in 3 to 4 years.

The proposal has been subjected to detailed investigation in a series of Bristol Port Company studies of its economic need and benefits, environmental impacts and engineering requirements. 

An application has been made to the Department for Transport (DfT) for a Harbour Revision Order (HRO) to enable construction of the terminal to start.