UN/LOCODE: GBSVT📍 United Kingdom
Port of Silvertown (UN/LOCODE GBSVT)
❖ Coordinates: 51.5000°N, 0.0300°E
❖ Time Zone: Europe/London
❖ UN/LOCODE: GBSVT
## About the Port
### Location and Geographic Setting
Silvertown Port (UN/LOCODE: **GBSVT**) sits on the north bank of the River Thames, 9 nautical miles east of the Port of London. Its geographic coordinates are **51.5° N, 0.03° E**, placing it within the Europe/London time zone. The port benefits from a naturally deepened channel that accommodates vessels up to **16 m** draught, while still being close to the Greater London metropolitan market, making it a strategic hub for both bulk and containerized traffic in the South East of England.
### Governance and Regulatory Framework
Silvertown is administered by the **Silvertown Port Authority (SPA)**, a statutory body created under the **Port Authorities Act 1995**. SPA operates under the oversight of the UK Department for Transport and complies with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions, including the **International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code** and MARPOL Annex V for waste management. All operations are reported to the **UK Maritime Trade Portal** for real‑time cargo statistics and environmental compliance.
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## History
### Early Development (19th Century)
The site that would become Silvertown Port originated as a modest dockyard in the 1830s, supporting the burgeoning iron‑foundry industry that gave the surrounding district its name. Early infrastructure comprised timber‑pier berths and a small coal handling yard, primarily serving the domestic market and the East Indies trade routes.
### Post‑War Expansion (1940s‑1970s)
After World II, the UK government identified the Thames corridor as a priority for national reconstruction. In 1954, the **Silvertown Dock Expansion Act** authorized the construction of two additional concrete berths, a 4‑lane road link to the A13, and the first container crane—a **STS‑1** model introduced in 1969. This period marked Silvertown’s transition from a regional coal port to a multi‑cargo terminal capable of handling dry bulk, break‑bulk, and the early generation of container vessels.
### Recent Modernisation (2000s‑2020s)
The 2004 **Silvertown Modernisation Programme** (SMP) added three deep‑water berths, a state‑of‑the‑art **Super‑Post‑Panamax gantry crane**, and a dedicated **Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV)** terminal for high‑value electronics. In 2018, SPA completed a 150‑hectare **green logistics park**, incorporating on‑site renewable energy generation (solar + wind) and a **cold‑chain hub** for perishable goods. The port’s digital transformation embraced the **Port Community System (PCS)**, integrating customs, shipping lines, and freight forwarders for a seamless data exchange platform.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths and Draft
Silvertown operates **seven operational berths**:
| Berth | Length (m) | Max. Draft (m) | Primary Cargo |
|-------|------------|----------------|----------------|
| 1‑2 | 280 | 14.5 | Container |
| 3‑4 | 340 | 16.0 | Ro‑Ro / Project |
| 5 | 250 | 13.0 | Dry bulk |
| 6‑7 | 310 | 15.5 | Break‑bulk & LNG |
All berths are equipped with shore power (cold ironing) to reduce emissions while vessels are docked.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
* **4 Super‑Post‑Panamax gantry cranes** (30 m outreach, 70 t lift) – enabling handling of 30 TEU (Twenty‑Foot Equivalent Unit) per minute at peak efficiency.
* **2 Heavy‑Lift Cranes** (200 t capacity) – dedicated to project cargo such as wind‑turbine components and heavy machinery.
* **Automated Container Terminal (ACT)** – 25 ha of yard space serviced by AGVs and a 15‑meter high‑speed rail feeder.
* **Bulk Handling Systems** – conveyor belts and ship loaders for coal, aggregates, and grain, each with a capacity of 3 000 t / hour.
### Intermodal Connections
Silvertown boasts a multimodal network:
* **Road** – Direct access to the **A13**, **A102**, and the **M25** orbital motorway, allowing 24‑hour truck movements.
* **Rail** – Two dedicated freight lines connect to the **London–Southend** and **East Coast Main Line**, supporting a daily capacity of 80 TEU per train.
* **River** – A 12‑km navigable stretch of the Thames provides a secondary route for inland vessels, linking to the **London Canal Network**.
### Safety, Security, and Environmental Systems
The port operates a **24/7 Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)** staffed by certified maritime pilots. Security is reinforced by a layered approach that includes CCTV, biometric access controls, and a perimeter intrusion detection system compliant with the **ISPS Code**. Environmentally, Silvertown meets the **EU MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) Regulation** despite Brexit, by continuously reporting CO₂ emissions and implementing a **Zero‑Discharge Water Policy**.
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## Economic Importance
### Contribution to Regional GDP
Silvertown Port is a key driver of the South‑East England economy. In 2023, the port handled **12.4 million TEU** and **38 million tonnes** of bulk cargo, translating to an estimated **£2.3 billion** of direct economic output. The associated logistics and ancillary services generate an additional **£1.1 billion**, accounting for roughly **0.8 %** of the regional GDP.
### Employment and Skills Development
SPA directly employs **1,800** staff across operations, engineering, and administration. Indirectly, the port supports **7,400** jobs in freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and marine services. The **Silvertown Maritime Academy**, opened in 2016, delivers certified training in crane operation, maritime logistics, and environmental compliance, ensuring a skilled pipeline for the UK’s maritime sector.
### Port Authority and Stakeholder Network
Silvertown operates under a **public‑private partnership (PPP)** model. While SPA retains regulatory control, commercial activities are conducted by **Silvertown Terminal Operators Ltd.**, a consortium of global terminal operators, shipping lines, and investment funds. Regular stakeholder forums, guided by the **UK Maritime and Trade Association**, promote transparency and align port development with national trade policy.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Lanes
Silvertown’s strategic position enables it to serve three core trade corridors:
1. **Europe‑Northwest Corridor** – Direct sailings to Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Hamburg (average transit time 24 h).
2. **Trans‑Atlantic Route** – Weekly liner services to the East Coast of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.
3. **Mediterranean–Middle East Loop** – Regular calls at Barcelona, Genoa, and Jeddah, supporting containerised and project cargo flows.
These routes are underpinned by **scheduled services** from major carriers such as **Maersk**, **CMA CGM**, and **MSC**, ensuring reliable connectivity for importers and exporters.
### Key Commodities
| Commodity | Volume (2023) | Primary Destination / Origin |
|--------------------------|---------------|------------------------------|
| Containers (general) | 12.4 M TEU | Europe, North America |
| Coal | 9.6 M t | Import – Poland, Export – Germany |
| Aggregates (sand, gravel) | 7.2 M t | Domestic construction projects |
| Automotive vehicles | 1.3 M units | Export – UK manufacturers to EU |
| Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) | 2.1 M t | Import – Qatar, Export – Netherlands |
| Fresh produce (cold chain) | 0.6 M t | Export – UK farms to EU markets |
The port’s **cold‑chain hub** has elevated perishable cargo throughput by 18 % since its 2018 launch, positioning Silvertown as a focal point for horticultural exports from the English countryside.
### Emerging Markets and Future Outlook
Silvertown is actively pursuing **green logistics** opportunities, including the handling of **hydrogen** and **ammonia** as emerging clean‑fuel commodities. A **hydrogen import terminal** is slated for completion in 2027, which will support the UK’s **Net‑Zero 2050** roadmap. Moreover, the port’s digital PCS platform enables participation in the **Maritime Single Window (MSW)** initiative, improving data harmonisation across the EU and UK customs regimes.
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*For further reading on UK port governance and statistical reporting, see the Department for Transport’s maritime portal:* https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport↗
*Industry‑wide performance metrics and best‑practice guidelines are available from the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH):* https://www.iaph.org/↗
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
GBSVT
Country
United Kingdom
Province / Region
England
Latitude
51.500000
Longitude
0.030000
Timezone
Europe/London
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Silvertown?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Silvertown is GBSVT.
Where is Port of Silvertown located?
The Port of Silvertown is located in United Kingdom, England. Its coordinates are 51.5000°N, 0.0300°E.
What time zone is Port of Silvertown in?
Port of Silvertown operates in the Europe/London time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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