Metal mountain of Suffolk: Hundreds of containers are stored at field near Felixstowe as ports struggle with congestion caused by global shipping crisis and HGV driver shortage

A 60-foot-high shipping container mountain has been spotted in a field in Suffolk as the nearby port of Felixstowe struggles with congestion caused by a lack of lorry drivers and the global sea freight crisis. 

Hundreds of empty steel containers stretching for 350 feet are being stored on a former airfield off the A140 near Eye, Suffolk, just 26 miles from Britain's biggest container port. 

Felixstowe said it did not know anything about the metal mountain, as shipping companies and hauliers aren't under any obligation to tell the port about their container arrangements.

But an industry source told MailOnline: 'Essentially it's overflow from Felixstowe. 

'There are insufficient drivers to move empty containers and lots of congestion around the world because of Covid - some ports in China and further afield have been blocked and are just getting back up to speed. 

'So it's like a game of Jenga with lots of moving pieces. What's happened here is that these containers have got snarled up at Felixstowe. 

'Rather than leaving empty containers at the port and letting them clog it up further, what seems to have happened is a deal has been done with the landowner to temporarily store them there.' 

Car and commercial vehicle dealer Roy Humphreys confirmed the shipping containers were on its land and not owned by them, but they did not want to comment further. 

Lorries drivers belonging to Maersk - the world's biggest shipping company - have been seen dropping off containers at the site. MailOnline has contacted the firm for comment. 

Piles of containers have been cropping up elsewhere across the world, including in Los Angeles, where California Governor Gavin Newson has ordered hauliers to find additional storage after stacks began appearing down streets and near homes. 

Felixstowe has been suffering from heavy congestion in recent months. 

In October, it emerged container ships had been forced to divert from the port due to lack of drivers and labour shortages which hampered efforts to unload and reload ships. 

The problems have been worsened by increased demand over Christmas. 

Hundreds of the empty steel containers stretching for 350 feet are being stored on a former airfield off the A140 near Eye, Suffolk, just 26 miles from Britain's biggest freight port

Hundreds of the empty steel containers stretching for 350 feet are being stored on a former airfield off the A140 near Eye, Suffolk, just 26 miles from Britain's biggest freight port

Felixstowe Port said it did not know anything about the metal mountain, as shipping companies and hauliers aren't under any obligation to tell the port about their container arrangements

Felixstowe Port said it did not know anything about the metal mountain, as shipping companies and hauliers aren't under any obligation to tell the port about their container arrangements

An industry source told MailOnline: 'Essentially it's overflow from Felixstowe. There are insufficient drivers to move empty containers and lots of congestion around the world because of Covid'

An industry source told MailOnline: 'Essentially it's overflow from Felixstowe. There are insufficient drivers to move empty containers and lots of congestion around the world because of Covid'

Pictures from the port on the Suffolk coast showed containers piled up over the gigantic dockside, as the British International Freight Association said it understood average ‘dwell times’ for cargo at the port have nearly doubled in the last two weeks, from five to 9.7 days.

The backlog has been affecting major retailers including IKEA and major food companies including Nestle, the world's largest food producer of coffee, baby food and chocolate, as well as tens of thousands of smaller UK businesses waiting for orders from all over the world.

Some cargo ships were being sent to European ports with containers moved into the UK via Dover or on smaller ships to less busy ports such as Hull and Liverpool because it was quicker to avoid Felixstowe. 

Today, unveiling its financial results, the world's biggest freight company Maersk said logistics problems across the global shipping industry would last well into next year. 

Last month, Maersk boss Lars Mikael Jensen has warned retailers may need to prioritise what they ship to Britain in the coming months due to delays, adding: 'Felixstowe is among the top two or three worst-hit terminals [globally]. We are having to deviate some of the bigger ships away from Felixstowe and relay some of the smaller ships for the cargo'.

Britain's labour crisis is also being blamed for the logjam, with one logistics company whistleblower telling ITV News anonymously: 'I’m fed up with this. Year on year this port never has enough staff to cope with high demand. 

'Now we’re hitting another peak period and all that people are talking about again is shutdowns and gridlock. These volumes were forecast, there have been many meetings about the run up to Christmas. Why are we on this position?' 

Over recent weeks empty shelves have been seen at every major supermarket in the country due to shortages. 

Store managers and staff have told MailOnline that deliveries are regularly now 'just not turning up' due to a lack of drivers.

One logistics industry source told MailOnline that there had been much discussion that the peak season is going to be tough and some suspect that the shipping lines will be making plans to spread the load between Felixstowe, Liverpool, Southampton and London Gateway.

The source added: 'So it's like a game of Jenga with lots of moving pieces. What's happened here is that these containers have got snarled up at Felixstowe'

The source added: 'So it's like a game of Jenga with lots of moving pieces. What's happened here is that these containers have got snarled up at Felixstowe'

'Rather than leaving empty containers at the port and letting them clog it up further, what seems to have happened is a deal has been done with the landowner to temporarily store them there,' the source said

'Rather than leaving empty containers at the port and letting them clog it up further, what seems to have happened is a deal has been done with the landowner to temporarily store them there,' the source said 

Yesterday, car and commercial vehicle dealer Roy Humphreys confirmed the shipping containers were on its land and not owned by them, but they did not want to comment further

Yesterday, car and commercial vehicle dealer Roy Humphreys confirmed the shipping containers were on its land and not owned by them, but they did not want to comment further

They added that decision to 'drop a port call is nothing new', and that there was anecdotal evidence that the dwell times at other major container ports is increasing.

The source said: 'The increased pressure on inland depots and UK terminals in general is down to a number of factors including the ongoing HGV driver issue, equipment shortage, post Brexit stockpiling and an increase in domestic spending due to a lack of foreign travel, as well as other matters.'

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted he could not guarantee families would not face shortages as they shop for Christmas favourites.

He told Sky News: 'We'll all be able to be together, we'll be able to buy things, there will be food on the table.'

But he added: 'I can't guarantee that every line of every product will be available. It's at that level, rather than thinking Christmas will have to be cancelled and upsetting children everywhere across the country.'

Toys are one of the items expected to be hit by price rises due to cost pressures from rising transport costs, higher energy prices and ongoing labour shortages. 

The differently coloured shipping containers and the surrounding countryside have combined to create a strangely beautiful scene at the former airfield

The differently coloured shipping containers and the surrounding countryside have combined to create a strangely beautiful scene at the former airfield 

Felixstowe has been suffering heavily from congestion in recent months. In October, it emerged container ships had been forced to divert from the port due to lack of drivers and labour shortages which hampered efforts to unload and reload ships.' Pictured are lorries at the airfield

Felixstowe has been suffering heavily from congestion in recent months. In October, it emerged container ships had been forced to divert from the port due to lack of drivers and labour shortages which hampered efforts to unload and reload ships.' Pictured are lorries at the airfield 

Some cargo ships were being sent to European ports with containers moved into the UK via Dover or on smaller ships to less busy ports such as Hull and Liverpool because it was quicker to avoid Felixstowe

Some cargo ships were being sent to European ports with containers moved into the UK via Dover or on smaller ships to less busy ports such as Hull and Liverpool because it was quicker to avoid Felixstowe

The Toy Retailers Association warns price increases in the coming months were 'inevitable' with shipping costs having risen a whopping 900 per cent in a year, with a £15 toy truck now costing £7 to ship from the Far East, up from 70p a year ago.

The shipping crisis has seen air freight bookings soar by up to 70 per cent, according to cargo group Air Charter Service.    

There have been reports union chiefs are preparing strike action for British HGV drivers after ministers backed plans to make it more attractive for foreign hauliers to work in the UK.

British businesses are said to be 'appalled' by Government-backed plans to allow overseas drivers make 'unlimited journeys at low rates' to combat shortages and save Christmas.

They say the move risks British labour being 'undercut' by cheaper foreign companies as national union Unite prepares to discuss potential strike action with hauliers, reports The Times.

An aerial photo taken on October 30 showing huge piles of shipping containers that have gathered at the Suffolk port

An aerial photo taken on October 30 showing huge piles of shipping containers that have gathered at the Suffolk port 

Maersk, the world's largest shipping firm, says it is diverting bigger ships away from the UK due to the delays at the dockside because it is quicker to avoid Felixstowe and move goods via France to Dover or to smaller UK ports such as Hull

Maersk, the world's largest shipping firm, says it is diverting bigger ships away from the UK due to the delays at the dockside because it is quicker to avoid Felixstowe and move goods via France to Dover or to smaller UK ports such as Hull

In desperate efforts to plug the gaps amid a national driver shortage, the government have agreed to a relaxation in 'cabotage' rules - which currently limit EU-based companies to making a maximum of two trips in the UK within a week.

But Rod McKenzie, managing director at the Road Haulage Association, warned ministers would be allowing firms from abroad 'do unlimited work at low rates, undercutting UK hauliers who are facing an acute driver shortage, rising costs and staff wages'.

Sharon Graham, Unite's new leader whose trade body was accused of 'holding Christmas hostage', added that the treatment of British drivers was 'nothing short of a disgrace'.

The news comes just days after thousands of supermarket and delivery drivers were to be consulted over a mass walkout - the largest strike threat of its kind since the notorious Winter of Discontent more than 40 years ago.   

Ikea and Nestle are among the huge businesses that say their products are being snarled up due to a lack of HGV drivers that is hitting all parts of British life

Ikea and Nestle are among the huge businesses that say their products are being snarled up due to a lack of HGV drivers that is hitting all parts of British life

Similar piles have been seen elsewhere across the world, including in Los Angeles, (pictured) where California Governor Gavin Newson has ordered hauliers to find additional storage after containers began appearing down streets and near homes

Similar piles have been seen elsewhere across the world, including in Los Angeles, (pictured) where California Governor Gavin Newson has ordered hauliers to find additional storage after containers began appearing down streets and near homes 

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