The Port of Southampton has received the go ahead to build a US$130 million two deepwater berths to handle the largest containerships afloat by 2014, and increase capacity by 750,000 TEU a year.

"The terminal can no longer accommodate four of the largest containerships simultaneously," said port director Doug Morrison. "This will rectify that."

The English Channel port will build a new quay wall at Berths 201 and 202 at its original container terminal, which is now a general cargo facility, reported Newark's Journal of Commerce. The new 1,625-foot (495 metres) facility will have a depth of 52 feet (16 metres), said the port operator, Associated British Ports.

Construction starts in September 2012. DP World's Southampton terminal is the UK's second largest container facility with two million TEU annual capacity.