A MAJOR development, which would cost about

£90 million, to increase the depth of Harwich harbour to make room for 400-metre long mega-ships is in the pipeline.

Harwich Haven Authority has announced it is launching the multi-million pound development in the Haven and has applied to the Marine Management Organisation for consent to increase the depth of the harbour and approach to the channel to

16 metres.

The significant improvement project will ensure that Haven ports will continue to be able to handle the increasing numbers of super-sized container ships in operation and under construction in the future.

The mega-vessels are about 400 metres long and

16 metres wide - to put it into perspective, the Shard in London is 310 metres high.

A Harwich Haven Authority spokesman said: “The large vessels that visit the ports are not significantly smaller than this, but we expect more to arrive, and the maximum draft is likely to increase.

“Arrivals and departures are subject to the tide and deep ships arrive and depart one at a time over high water.

“Improving the access to the harbour will mean that these vessels will be less affected by the tide and therefore we’ll be able to manage more arrivals and departures.”

Neil Glendinning, chief executive officer of Harwich Haven Authority, said: “The proposal we have put forward to deepen the harbour and channel is vital to ensure the flow of trade into and out of the UK’s largest port facility.

“The shipping industry is critical to the UK economy with about 95 per cent of all British imports and exports being moved by sea.

“Many UK port operators face increased competition for trade and we’re keen to ensure that Haven ports remain the premier destination for the global container shipping fleet.

“As the trend to build mega-sized container vessels continues, we need to ensure that we can facilitate the unimpeded arrival and departure of these vessels at the Haven ports. We also need to ensure that the local and regional economy continues to benefit from the trade and inward investment that this brings and safeguard jobs for future generations.”