SOUTHAMPTON Container Terminals Ltd (SCT) is expanding the size of its terminal boundary by leasing a further 10.5 acres from Associated British Ports (ABP).

The new land, now used for roll on/roll off operations, will be handed over in early September, more than a year earlier than previously expected, reports the UK's Shipping Times.

"This new land, which is in addition to the 13 acres taken on at the start of the year, will take the terminal footprint to over 213 acres. We are delighted that ABP has been able to accelerate the availability of this additional land as it will provide us with further capacity to handle the continued high volume of boxes moving through the terminal," said the terminal's managing director Campbell Mason.

Three of the 10.5 acres will require repaving as well as the removal of existing structures. The land will then be phased into terminal operations as soon as possible.