biomass power station generating electricity from 750,000
tonnes of woodchip that could be shipped into the port each
year. “We are always looking for new business and new
business opportunities,” said Mr Morrison. “the challenge for us
going forward is to grow the existing business, identify and
maximise new opportunities and safeguard the 800 acres of
strategic land reserve at Dibden Bay for future use – a legacy for
future generations.
“there will come a time when it will be needed – not on my
watch – but if the population of the UK continues to grow,
demand will grow and the excess capacity in the container
business will be soaked up. And where are you going to build
Britain’s next container terminal? Right here in the Port of
southampton.”
Ask the Port Director what wins business for southampton
and he has no hesitation in answering: “It’s location, location,
location. our location is second to none. southampton is
strategically positioned as the first port for shipping entering
the english Channel and the last for vessels leaving the busy
shipping lanes. It is a sheltered harbour which rarely suffers the
consequences of adverse weather and has a remarkable
double tide that offers maritime traffic freedom of access and
egress that is the envy of other ports.”
southampton has been the stimulus behind ever-expanding
rail and road networks, which speedily serve every corner of
the UK. More than 25 trains a day travel the national rail
network to and from southampton Docks carrying containers
and cars.
As many as 2,700 trucks a day deliver and collect containers
at the UK’s second busiest box terminal, and yet more trucks
shuttle in and out of the port carrying a whole range of other
cargoes. More cargo moves in and out of southampton on a
cluster of feeder shipping services linking with other parts of
the UK, Ireland and scandinavia.
12
Port of southampton 2013/2014
oVeRVIeW
soUtHAMPton
Bulk liquids, too, are big business in Britain’s
most perfectly positioned south Coast port.
esso’s oil refinery at Fawley is the largest in the
UK, handling around 2,000 ship movements a
year carrying 22 million tonnes of crude oil
and other products. BP’s Hamble terminal
handles crude oil for refineries and petroleum
products arriving by pipeline and ship.
