Responding to the Minister’s statement, Bob Goldfield, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover, said: “The decision is frustrating for the Port and for the community, for whom this was a unique opportunity to benefit from the success of this major international gateway.  Developing the Port, providing an important contribution to the regeneration of Dover, growing and adding value to the business, were key objectives for the DHB scheme and will continue to be our focus as we remain as a trust port.

It is, however, a great pity and a disappointment to the Members of the Dover Harbour Board that the people of Dover will not now benefit from the injection of many millions of pounds into local community projects, via our proposed Port of Dover Community Trust that would have been possible had the decision been in our favour”.

We will now take some time to consider the analysis behind the Ministerial decision in detail and assess its impact on our future strategic and financial plans.

The turntable, including a 5 tonnes and 10 tonnes deck tensioner, is destined for the vessel Willem de Vlamingh. In addition to this turntable, Caley is supplying a modular loading tower assembly comprising loading arm, inboard chute, and control cabin.

In the first quarter of 2013, Willem de Vlamingh will be being outfitted for cable laying offshore. Jan De Nul Group will than install the 245kV export cable connecting the Northwind offshore windfarm on the Lodewijkbank off the coast of Oostende to the Belgian power grid.

Both projects will include breakwater and quay construction, dredging services and terminal reclamation including a primary quay of 1.05-1.1km long, breakwater extensions of different lengths, as well as extensive dredging and reclamation works.
 
The new quays’ container capacity will be 1.1-1.4 million TEU each. The estimated cost of each quay is NIS 4 billion. The Ports Company expects container cargo traffic at the two Israeli ports to grow by 5.3% a year.
 
However, analysis of the figures indicates that its estimate is conservative compared with the actual growth rate. The Ports Company believes that the ports will reach full capacity by 2018, and that they will not be able to handle additional cargoes.
 
IPC expects to complete the design of the new container terminals in Haifa and Ashdod this year and is concurrently progressing with the permitting process.
 
No decision has been made which of the two terminals will be developed first or if they will be developed in parallel. Opening of the terminal(s) is set for 2018.

Instead the charity says it’s time to work with businesses, academics and other stakeholders around the Severn to produce a more compelling vision that both secures renewable power generation AND safeguards its status as an internationally important estuary system.

Mark Robins, RSPB Policy Officer for the South West said: “It’s hard to see a Cardiff to Weston barrage as anything other than a spectre hanging over a much more 21st Century vision for the Severn.

“An UK£8 million study by DECC for the last Government concluded there was no sensible business case for such a barrage. Last week Prime Minister David Cameron said the barrage idea was “a long way off any sort of rational fruition”.

“Yet another re-launch of this zombie-like idea, once more back from the grave, hardly helps stimulate creative discussion about the Severn, one that is innovating, focused on solutions, and that unlocks potential for this UK hot spot for both business and environment.

“The RSPB has a simple test to offer marine energy projects in the Severn – to ensure the delivery of the maximum capacity of renewable energy for the minimum impact on the natural environment. At this time it is unclear that Hafren Power’s barrage scheme would be deliverable, be affordable for the consumer, and acceptable in terms of its environmental impact.”

RSPB is currently in discussion with the Bristol Port Company and UWE Bristol to find creative ways forward that makes the most of this fantastic resource.

Sue Turner, Director of Communications at The Bristol Port Company said: “The Cardiff-Weston barrage would destroy almost as many jobs as it would create and cost energy consumers a fortune so that foreign investors can line their pockets. We are working on better ways to generate energy from the Severn without the negative consequences.”

Tom Appleby senior lecturer in law at UWE said: “The Severn is one of the most dynamic natural systems in the world and there are some huge opportunities for sustainable development driven by locally developed technologies.”