The project drew criticism from some residents and environment advocates for its effect on health and on a major coastal restoration project. RAM would process 6 million tonnes of coal annually at its plant on a 600 acres site near Myrtle Grove.

The terminal would affect a broad area, with trains carrying uncovered cars of coal through Gretna and Belle Chasse and mounds of coal piled next to the mid-Barataria sediment diversion project.

Responding to the concerns of residents, the Gretna and Jefferson councils asked the USACE to weigh the effect of the terminal on the Mid-Barataria diversion, which is designed to build wetlands. The USD 250 million project could begin in 2015. But the USACE declined.

RAM Terminal first applied for a permit in March 2012 and now it is allowed to “clear, grade, excavate and deposit fill”.’

RAM Terminal said the plant is needed as the demand for coal increases. The coal would come from producers in the Illinois Basin and western and central Appalachia, and be shipped out to Asia and Europe. The project is expected to employ 150 people upon completion, 300 during construction.

The work was awarded to the GRAHAM Lagan Construction Group Joint Venture (JV) by Associated British Ports (ABP) and will run for approximately two years.

The Graham Lagan Construction Group JV will be responsible for preparing the site for Siemens, which can then begin construction of its own facilities. The site is due to become fully operational by summer 2017.

The work will be overseen by consulting engineers CH2M HILL who have been appointed by ABP to support them with the delivery of the project.

The scheme includes infilling one third of Alexandra Dock with 780,000 m3 of material and reclaiming 7.5 ha of the river to create a new 650m quay wall, which can accommodate three wind installation vessels.

Construction will also involve dredging a new berth pocket, completion of earthworks and surfacing, building internal access roads and service networks, construction of a new Roll-on / Roll-off ramp and demolition of some existing buildings.

ABP Head of Projects, Humber, Simon Brett believes the GRAHAM Lagan Construction Group JV will deliver an excellent programme of work and he’s looking forward to seeing the site begin to take shape.

He said: “Based on the detailed tender evaluation process which considered design, programming and cost, the Joint Venture met all of the requirements and the bid was very impressive. We are confident that the GRAHAM Lagan Construction Group JV will deliver what we ask of them and we know they’ll carry that work out to the highest standard.

“This has been a very exciting year for all of those involved in the Siemens project and I’m looking forward to seeing work begin in earnest and to bringing much-needed jobs and prosperity to Hull and the wider Humber region.”

Speaking of the success, Paul Scott, Project Director, GRAHAM Lagan Construction Group JV, stated: “This is a major opportunity for GRAHAM Construction and Lagan Construction Group, and a project we as a Joint Venture are delighted to have secured. Green Port Hull will be a world-class manufacturing facility and will establish the Humber at the centre of the offshore wind sector in the UK.

“A key part of this project’s success will be the high level of teamwork between our staff and those of ABP and the commitment of all individuals to delivering a high-quality project, safely and on time.”

The entire Siemens development will be spread across two sites comprising the Green Port Hull facility and a new rotor blade manufacturing base in nearby Paull, in the East Riding. Siemens is investing £160 million across the two locations and ABP is investing a further £150 million in the Green Port Hull development.

The investment will provide a huge boost to the UK’s offshore wind industry and the Humber region. The combined investments of £310 million will create up to 1,000 jobs directly – 550 at the blade factory and 450 at the Green Port Hull facility on Alexandra Dock.

million and allows large car-carrying ships to berth outside the Port’s lock system. This development confirms the Port’s position as the UK’s leading automotive handling facility.

More than the equivalent of 1million teus (twenty foot equivalent unit) of unitised trade is shipped through ABP Humber ports.

Ro-ro and container traffic represents more than 30 sailings a week to Europe, Scandinavia the Baltic and beyond.

The Humber ports handle more than 70 freight train movements per day.

Goole is situated 50 miles upriver and is the UK’s premier inland port. It handles over two million tonnes of cargo annually.

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has confirmed that from next month (December), its service from South Africa to UK/Northwest Europe will make a direct London Gateway call, switching from the Port of Felixstowe. The new rotation will offer the best possible UK port coverage, MSC has told shippers. The first MSC vessel to call into DP World London Gateway on the new rotation will be the MSC Rita, which is due to arrive 7th December.

DP World London Gateway has also been chosen by Hamburg Süd as the UK port of call for a brand new service connecting the North European market with Mexico, Central America and Colombia. The first ship to call into DP World London Gateway on this weekly, fixed-day Europe-Mexico-Caribbean Service (EMCS) will be the Cap Beaufort, arriving this week. Hamburg Süd has launched the new service to meet its customers’ requests for a fast, direct, independent service between North Europe, Mexico and Central America. The port rotation is Antwerp, London Gateway, Hamburg, Altamira, Veracruz, Puerto Limon, Cartagena, Marin, Antwerp.

“The best-in-class facilities and inspection systems established at DP World London Gateway’s Border Control Post will play a vital role in meeting the needs of this new service,” said Tabare Dominguez, DP World London Gateway Port Commercial Manager. “The EMCS will carry a large quantity of fruit and fresh produce. The time-critical nature of this cargo goes without saying. Furthermore, at DP World London Gateway, importers can be confident of fast and efficient inspection procedures, and a rapid and reliable turnaround of trucks at the terminal.”

In another service win for DP World London Gateway, the Chilean line CSAV has confirmed a weekly call into the port as part of its reconfigured Europe-Middle East/India (IMEX) services, which will join the already established EPIC service at DP World London Gateway. The IMEX Sling 1, starting this month (November), will be served by eight 5,500-6,500 TEU vessels. It will cover key ports in North Europe, the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf, Pakistan and India West Coast. It will also offer two hubs in the Mediterranean, extending CSAV’s presence and the opportunities for shippers in this region.

“We are delighted to announce yet more services into DP World London Gateway. This is a real vote of confidence in our service levels, facilities and location,” said CEO Simon Moore. “Shipping lines and shippers are increasingly recognising the benefits of using the UK’s new deep-water container port. DP World London Gateway continues to expand its network of services, adding to the choices for shippers looking to streamline their supply chains, cut their costs and reduce their carbon footprint.”

“October was the fourth consecutive month of volume exceeding 200,000 units (TEUs), so the volume growth is strong,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “These volumes present a challenge to our delivery of efficient service to the motor carriers and we are fully engaged in port-wide efforts to improve throughput for trucks.”

The port will release its financial results for October at the Nov. 18 meeting of the Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners, Reinhart said.

In October, the port handled 221,105 TEUs, an increase of 7 percent, or 14,508 TEUs, when compared with October 2013. In a year-to-date comparison (Jan. – Oct. 2014 vs. Jan. – Oct. 2013)