In a £1.5 billion development at the former Shell oil refinery at Coryton, the London Gateway container port will become a major hub for UK shipping and Europe's largest logistics park.
Use of innovative technology will mean that the port is the most fully-automated in the country, able to dock and unload the world's largest cargo ships and adding the equivalent of an extra 3.5million twenty-foot containers to the UK's port capacity.
Furthermore, a logistics park with 9.5 million square feet of distribution, manufacturing and high-tech units will be built at the site.
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In a statement, the London Gateway said that the combined port and logistics centre will offer international firms a more efficient and environmentally-friendly way to distribute goods.
Simon Moore, London Gateway chief executive, said: "This is an historic day for the shipping industry and the economy as a whole.
"Our customers will be able to cut costs from their supply chains, increase efficiency and reduce their environmental footprints.
The development will create more than 12,000 jobs and represents the capital investment project currently operating in the UK.
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