Port officials at Felixstowe are doing all they can to avoid a repeat of this month's closure due to severe frost. The port closed for nearly two days during the cold snap because the cranes froze so badly that they could not operate and were too dangerous for the crane drivers to climb.
A spokesman admits that hauliers were unhappy with the length of the closure, adding that it was caused by very low temperatures and a "very
still" atmosphere.
He adds: "It was a very unusual combination of circumstances but obviously we will do all we can to avoid a repeat." The port is investigating possible methods of treating the cranes to prevent them freezing or to defrost them more quickly if the conditions occur again.
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