EXCITING plans to extend the cruise berth at Portland Port were a hot topic at the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce's business breakfast.

Ian McQuade, the general manager of Portland Port, was the main speaker earlier this month and provided guests with an update on developments at the port, including plans to extend the cruise berth, a new multi-million pound tug, bunker operations and the new cruise diary for 2016.

Mr McQuade said 27,000 passengers are expected this year, rising to 30,000 in 2017 which will create many benefits for Weymouth and Portland.

Mention was also made of the importance of the industrial side to the port; within the region of 200,000 tons of goods passing through, varying from cement imports to grain exports.

The meeting was sponsored by Basepoint of Weymouth with its manager Mark Sers telling the guests about the role Basepoint play in the Weymouth business scene.

Mark explained that as Basepoint is owned by The ACT Foundation, a leading UK grant making charity. Each Basepoint Centre is dedicated to fundraising for a selected local charity and The ACT Foundation match funds any money raised for the chosen charity - up to a maximum of £10,000.

As well as match funding, each Basepoint Centre takes a keen interest in supporting their chosen charity through their own fundraising activities held at their centre including coffee mornings, raffles and book sales.

Last year the Weymouth Basepoint raised £10,000 for the local Butterflies Children's Charity.

A special thank you by vice-president Shenis Cant was given to Anna-Maria Geare for organising the meetings for the last nine years and members showed their appreciation of her dedication to the work of the chamber. Anna-Maria has also been made an Honourary Member of the organisation.

The Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce holds its monthly breakfast meetings on the first Tuesday of the month. The next business breakfast is being held on Tuesday, June 7 from 7.30am to approximately 9am at Rendezvous.

For more information visit wpchamber.co.uk or contact Guy Bridge at info@wpchamber.co.uk