Your gateway to the capital – and beyond
The ports of Sheerness and Chatham form the core terminals of Peel Ports’ London Medway cluster, which isn’t just a group of strategically placed, versatile docks, but a forward-looking business offering a range of opportunities to all our users.
The quay to international trade
The historic ports of Sheerness and Chatham together form our London Medway cluster and provide in excess of 450 acres of facilities designed to meet the needs of customers across the South East of England and beyond.
Location is everything and our proximity to the nation’s capital – and to mainland Europe - means we’re perfectly placed to connect this thriving part of Britain with the rest of the UK and beyond.
Across Medway we work with a range of other terminal operators and collaborate to offer customers the services they need. That means we work in tandem with the wider community which includes LNG, BP Aviation and Thamesport.
Our sites handle a vast array of cargo including automotive, steel, timber, paper and Project Cargo, as well as having the ability to process RoRo and LoLo cargo. At Sheerness, we also have seven deep water berths.
We have extensive experience and can offer you full turnkey solutions, and lean on us for multiple needs – including logistics, marine and agency services. And with our ability to cater for ships of almost every size – from anywhere in the world – we are the perfect partner for your shipping needs, whatever they may be.
Our strengths
- No lock/air draught restrictions or lengthy river navigation for quick load/discharge service
- Strong local chain supply
- Conveniently located on the Thames Estuary
- Seven deep water berths
- Immediate access to major road networks
- Leading infrastructure, including RoRo and LoLo operations
Our connectivity benefits are clear too, with direct access to the motorway network connecting Kent with London – not to mention the rest of the UK. That, combined with our significant land footprint available for development, means that London Medway is strategically positioned to connect London, the South East of London and the Midlands to international trade.
Purpose-built for paper
We've invested heavily in creating a paper-friendly ecosystem within our port.
Our specialised storage facilities are purpose-built to handle paper products, ensuring your goods are protected from the moment they arrive until they're ready for distribution. With direct shipping routes from major paper-producing regions, including a dedicated weekly service from Finland, we're continuously expanding our connections to serve you better.
- 94,235² of specialised paper storage facilities
- 450,000 tonnes of paper products handled each year
- Dedicated paper operational teams with specialist knowledge of paper handling.
- Safe and efficient movement of your products with Bolzoni Auramo paper clamps and multi-pallet handlers
- Bespoke stock management systems, utilising EDI links such as PapiNET to integrate with your own systems
Enabling UK construction projects
London Medway's newly-installed giant rebar magnet, dubbed ‘The Iron Grip’, can process up to 10 tons of rebar in just 2.5 minutes.
Investment in this advanced rebar processing technology machinery is enabling customers to:
- Increase the volume carried in each shipment, reducing emissions per tonne
- Eliminate the need for manual handling, significantly reducing health and safety risks associated with traditional methods of processing rebar.
- Discharge cargo faster, increasing efficiency.
Growing together, sustainability
The paper industry is changing, and so are we. We are extending our RORO berth capacity, set to be operational in 2025 which will significantly increase our capacity to welcome even more shipments. This investment reflects our commitment to growing alongside you and adapting to the industry's evolving needs.
Sustainability is more than a buzzword for us – it's a core part of our strategy. Our commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2040 aligns with the increasing pressure you face to reduce carbon footprints across the supply chain. We're eager to collaborate with you on initiatives that can make a real difference in reducing CO2 emissions throughout the logistics process.
Commodities we handle
Between Sheerness and Chatham, we can find the right solution for what you need.
Flexibility is central to the ethos we employ across the group. At London Medway, we pride ourselves on being easy to work with and can handle a huge array of cargo. And with standard and dedicated warehousing, extensive open storage areas and a wide range of specialist offerings, we can be so much more than a simple logistics partner.
Our highly-trained team is capable of quickly ascertaining what will work for you, with extensive experience across a cross-section of major business sectors. And as a forward-looking organisation, we are constantly looking for ways to renew and improve our offering, meaning that when you partner with Peel Ports you partner with a business that wants to grow as you do.
Services at London Medway
London Medway, which is made up of Sheerness and Chatham, is a vibrant, forward-looking business offering a range of opportunities, not only because of its location but also because of the scope for development available to every Peel Ports customer. We can offer a range of solutions from automotive logistics to stevedoring.
Construction.
Automotive.
Marine.
Port Centric Warehousing and Logistics.
Property.
Port Security.
Property.
Stevedoring.
Port Shunting.
Timber Products.
Location
Positioned at the mouth of the Thames Estuary and with a strong local supply chain, our ports at London Medway are within close proximity to London and within easy reach of Northern Europe. We are a short distance to the M2, M20 and M25, nearby to the M20, M25 and M2, which gives our customers access to the UK’s wider roads network.
Our strategic location at the mouth of the River Thames is just the beginning of what sets us apart. This prime position means fewer bottlenecks and reduced waiting times compared to ports further downstream. For you, this translates to more predictable delivery schedules and easier stock management – critical factors in meeting your customers' expectations for fast, reliable delivery.
London Medway is always evolving, ensuring we can serve your needs not just today, but tomorrow. We’re currently reviewing additional RoRo capacity and developing a construction hub on-site, which would unlock even greater opportunities and cement our position as the best-connected port within reach of London.
Headline News
A new freight service from Finland to Sheerness
Finnlines is set to launch a new freight service from Finland to London Medway located in Sheerness, with further connections available to Belgium, Spain, and Ireland.
London Medway Marine Information
London Medway’s Marine Department manages the provision of vital marine services to shipping operators within the statutory harbour area.
These include everything from tug services, marine pilotage and pilot transfer service to hydrographic surveying, maintenance dredging, navigation aid provision and mooring services.