Ideally located on the south coast close to major shipping lanes linking the UK to European and global markets, Southampton is Britain’s Gateway to the World. The port is the UK’s number one hub for deep sea trade and a critical link in supply chains serving businesses and manufacturers throughout the nation.
Southampton is the UK's number one vehicle handling port, processing 900,000 vehicles per year. As Europe's leading turnaround cruise port, Southampton welcomes around two million passengers annually to its five cruise terminals, including the new Horizon Cruise Terminal, and is home to the UK’s first shore power facility for cruise ships. The port is also home to the UK’s second largest container terminal.
The Port of Southampton supports 45,600 jobs and contributes £2.5 billion to the nation’s economy every year. As the UK’s number one hub for deep sea trade, Southampton handles exports worth £40 billion annually, including £36 billion destined for markets outside the EU. The port is at the heart of supply chains supporting manufacturers and businesses throughout Britain, including in sectors such as automotive where the Port supports 11,700 jobs in the West Midlands alone.
Every year ABP is proud to sponsor the Southampton Marathon events, enabling thousands of runners to come together and raise money for good causes. The port is also heavily engaged in supporting a range of other charities. Its current Charity of the Year is ANDYSMANCLUB, which is a suicide prevention charity offering free-to attend peer to peer support groups.
Connectivity
The Port of Southampton is less than two miles (3km) from the M27 and has direct rail links to the national railway network for both freight and passengers. The port offers 23 container trains a day with gauge clearance for 9'6" high containers to major cargo-generating regions in the Midlands, North West, East Coast, and Scotland.
The port is served by Southampton International Airport, while Gatwick and Heathrow airports are within easy reach.
Delivering for customers
The Port of Southampton has five world-class cruise terminals in operation, all with ship-to-shore walkways. There are also convenient cruise-parking facilities for cruise customers, securely located within the port estate.
The five-berth Southampton Container Terminal, operated by partners DP World, is the most productive container terminal in the UK. In 2014, the purpose-built SCT 5 opened, providing 500m of quay and 16.5m water depth, making it capable of handling the largest container vessels in the world.
Southampton has over 100 ha of vehicle storage and distribution compounds, also offering value-added services including pre-delivery inspections and vehicle-enhancement work. The port has capacity for over 50,000 vehicles at any one time on their way in or out of the UK.
All ABP's ports offer the latest state-of-the-art facilities and equipment dedicated to handing a wide range of cargoes. Examples of recent investments in Southampton include the £55 million Horizon Cruise Terminal, two shore power connections, £15 million in our 8th multi-deck automotive storage facility and the £12 million upgrade of the Ocean Cruise Terminal, further enhancing the service offered to cruise passengers.
Port of Southampton handles
900,000 vehicles every yearHandles
£40 billion of UK exports every yearWelcomes around
2 million cruise passengers per yearKey statistics and berthing information
Port acreage = 726 acres
| Dock, Jetty or Quay | Berth No. | Nominal Dredged Depth at Lowest Low Water (m) | Length of Quays (m) |
| Container berths | SCT 1 | 15.1 | 420 |
| SCT 2 | 15.1 | 310 | |
| SCT 3 | 14.0 | 310 | |
| SCT 4 | 13.6 | 310 | |
| SCT 5 | 16.5 | 490 | |
| Western Docks | 101-2 | 10.2 | 370 |
| 102-3 | 10.2 | 310 | |
| 103-4 | 10.2 | 340 | |
| 105 | 11.7 | 200 | |
| 106 | 11.7 | 260 | |
| 106-7 | 11.7 | 110 | |
| 107-9 | 11.7 | 750 | |
| 109 | 10.2 | ||
| Ocean Dock (entrance 121.9m wide) | 43-44 | 11.7 | 480 |
| 45 | 10.2 | 190 | |
| 46 | 10.2 | 230 | |
| 47 | 11.7 | 250 | |
| Test Quays | 48 | 7.1 | 100 |
| 49 | 7.1 | 120 | |
| 40 | 9.3 | 130 | |
| 41 | 8.7 | 172 | |
| 38-39 | 10.5 | 360 | |
| Dock Head | 37 | 7.8 | 143 |
| Express Dock (entrance 48.5 m wide) | 22-23 | 6.8 | 200 |
| 24-25 | 7.1 | 190 | |
| 26-27 | 7.1 | 240 | |
| Itchen Quays | 30-33 | 9.1 | 263 |
| 34-36 | 9.9 | 480 | |
| ABP Solent Gateway Mulberry Jetty |
Berth 1 | 4 | 115 |
| ABP Solent Gateway Mulberry Jetty |
Berth 2 | 4 | 115 |
| ABP Solent Gateway Falklands Jetty |
Berth 3 | 8 | Two Dolphins are available for vessels up to 210m |
| ABP Solent Gateway Falklands Jetty |
Berth 4 | 8 | Two Dolphins are available for vessels up to 210m |
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