Queen Elizabeth II Dock's Sustainable Future

The Queen Elizabeth II Dock has undergone significant transformations to secure its sustainable future. The dock's location on the Manchester Ship Canal makes it an ideal hub for cargo ships and cruise liners.

The dock's proximity to the city center and major transportation links reduces the need for lengthy journeys, minimizing carbon emissions.

As a result, the dock has seen a significant increase in the number of environmentally friendly vessels calling at the dock, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the port.

The Queen Elizabeth II Dock is a significant part of the port's history, having been opened in 1981. It was built to accommodate larger vessels and increase cargo handling capacity.

Located on the south bank of the River Thames, the dock is a major container terminal, with a total quay length of 1,300 meters. Its strategic location allows for easy access to the rest of the UK and Europe.

The dock's design and construction were influenced by the need for efficient cargo handling and storage, with features such as a large storage area and a rail link to the national network.

The Queen Elizabeth II Dock is situated on the River Mersey at Eastham, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England.

Construction of the dock began in 1949, adjacent to the entrance of the Manchester Ship Canal at Eastham Locks. This was a strategic move to provide berthing facilities for large tankers.

The dock was built to accommodate tankers that couldn't fit on the existing canal due to their size. This was achieved by opening directly onto the river.

The lock chamber measures 807 by 100 feet in size, with a water depth of 40 feet. This allows for safe passage of tankers.

Two steel gates are located at either end of the lock, with a further gate one third of the way along from the Mersey entrance. These gates open by retracting into the dock wall.

The dock itself was constructed with four berths, each capable of handling tankers of up to 30,000 gross tons.

Here's an interesting read: Mersey Docks and Harbour Company

At the Queen Elizabeth II Dock, hydropower is being harnessed to generate renewable energy. The dock's 30 foot lock has been fitted with a state-of-the-art twin Archimedean screw generator.

This innovative technology will produce up to 1,500,000 kWh of energy per year, enough to power an estimated 190,000 homes for a day. This is a significant step towards making the dock's operations more sustainable.

Peel Ports has partnered with Czech renewable energy specialist Hydropol to make this project a reality. The partnership is a pioneering private energy purchasing agreement that will see the dock procure renewable energy from Hydropol.

The hydropower generator is also powering the site's Green Automotive Hub, which enables sustainable vehicle manufacturing. This makes the Hub even greener and fully energy independent.

By introducing hydropower to the dock, Peel Ports is reducing its carbon footprint and moving closer to its goal of becoming a net zero port operator by 2040.