Information on Harwich International



Harwich International Port is located in the Tendering District of Essex on the east coast of England and lies on the South Bank of the River Stour.

Harwich is one of the Haven Ports, a group of ports on the East Coast of England made up of the Port of Felixstowe, Port of Ipswich, Harwich International, Harwich Navyard and Mistley. The Port of Harwich was formerly known as Parkeston Quay.

Eastern Counties Railway and Eastern Union Railway merged to form the Great Eastern Railway in 1862 and operated steamers across the North Sea from the Port. The shipping trade increased and by 1872 permission was granted to reclaim land at Ray Farm where the Great Eastern Railway used the land to build a new Quay, complete with railway station and hotel which opened in 1883.

In 1923 the Great Eastern Railway became part of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).

The Admiralty requisitioned Parkeston Quay in 1939 for naval purposes and renamed it HMS Badger until 1946 when it handed it back over to the LNER.

The LNER was nationalised on 1st January 1948 and the port transferred to British Railways ownership, then in 1984 it was sold to Sea Containers who in 1989 sold it on to Stena Line.

Hutchinson Ports (UK) Ltd the current owners acquired Parkeston Quay in 1998 and renamed it Harwich International Port. The acquisition marked a new chapter in port’s history, as part of the Hutchinson Port Holdings Group (HPH), the world’s largest private port owner and operator.



Throughout the 20th and into the 21st Century Harwich has retained its close ties with Europe with its Roll on – Roll off ferries with Stena Line operating regular sailings to Rotterdam/Europort and Hook of Holland and DFDS operating to Esbjerg in Denmark.

The port diversified and today’s activities include tankers calling at the Petrochem Carless refinery, general cargo, dry bulk and containers, plus a thriving cruise business.

Extensive railway sidings lie next to the railway station and ferry terminal.

 By Taxi

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Taxi Transfers 4U wish you a pleasant journey and hope to see you in the future.