Behind the scenes at Portland's thriving port (there is A LOT going on!)

Langham Industries took over control of Portland Harbour from the Royal Navy in 1997. Since then it has developed into a thriving commercial port, handling cruise ships, cargoes, bunker vessels while also maintaining a strong relationship with the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Under the umbrella of the Portland Port Group are two separate entities: Portland Port Ltd and Portland Harbour Authority Ltd.

Ian McQuade, general manager (business development) for Portland Port explained that the harbour has two main cargo steams; animal feed and cement.

Last year more than 200,000 tonnes of animal feed was shipped in. This year around 80,000 tonnes of cement are expected.

2018 will also be another record-breaker for the port, with 32 cruise ships bringing nearly 39,000 passengers – up from 34,000 passengers on 26 ships in 2017.

Earlier this week Portland Port welcomed the biggest ship to ever come to the island – Norwegian Cruise Line’s, Norwegian Breakaway – measuring 135.7 metres and bringing more than 4,000 passengers.

Norwegian Breakaway arriving at Portland Port 

Bill Reeves, CEO of Portland Port said that although some cruise passengers go on day trips out of the county, 75 per cent stay in Dorset, with some not even leaving Portland.

He said that on average, each passenger spends around £55 on their visit – with the Norwegian Cruise Line bringing more than 4,000 passengers, that works out as more than £200,000 being put into the local economy. 

He said: “Last year, £1.5 million was put into the local economy from the 26 cruise ships – and this year there is an extra six coming in. That is a lot of money for a seaside town.”

Mr McQuade explained that the thrive in cruise ships at Portland Port was mainly just to a “change of approach”.

He said: “We didn’t actively go out and pursue the cruise ship companies – but now that has changed and we have built strong relationships with them. That started in 2008 and we have managed to build up our relationships and make sure that the businesses know we are here and what we can offer their customers.

“The feedback we have had from cruise ship passengers is that they received a warm welcome from their first step off the ship. We want to ensure that their experience is positive. If the passengers are happy, the cruise operator is happy and if they are happy they want to come back to us – it’s as simple as that.”

Looking to the future, Mr McQuade said Portland Port had “high hopes” for it’s new maritime engineering company, Intermarine UK Ltd.

Bill Reeves Portland Port and Slawomir Kalicki Intermarine UK joined by members of their teams

Inter Marine group president Slawomir Kalicki explained that the Polish company was established in 1990 and has now diversified business activities in marine engineering, crew management both on shore at at sea, shipping services and international trade. Mr Kalicki said the company has a high standard of business ethics and its focus is on quality. 

The main clients of Intermarine include Cammell Laird, Aircraft Carrier Alliance, BAE Systems, Ferguson Marine, A&P and Babcock.

Alongside production manager Craig Didio, Mr Kalicki explained that Intermarine was drawn to Portland because of its location with quick and easy access to the English Channel, the berthing capability, land availability and its 24/7 operations. Mr Kalicki said the relationship between themselves and Portland Port was “fantastic”.

He said: “We were looking into different locations and a facility we could take over. Portland Port was a very attractive option. We have been made very welcome here and we both work to help each other. Nothing seems to be a problem, there is always a solution.

“Initially we were planning to invest for 15 years but when we were just about to sign I decided to extend the lease by another five years.”

Mr Didio said that two engineering projects that the company is most proud of to date is their work on the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

Recently the company has invested almost half a million in new equipment including a CNC plasma cutting machine, a CNC press break and a hydraulic steel worker - with a lot more planned for the future. 

There are a number of other operations thriving at Portland Port: Manor Marine is a ship building and ship repair company; Native Marine Centre Ltd breed Lumpsucker fish which are sent up to Scotland to help ‘clean’ the fish at a salmon farm; Global Marine Systems Ltd specialise in the maintenance of submarine telecom cables; Portland Bunkers UK Ltd, which along with partner Monjasa A/S, store and supply fuel for ships; Portland Shellfish Ltd trade crab, lobster, langoustine, cockles, clams and shellfish to buyers in the UK, France, Spain, and Intermarine UK Ltd has recently invested a six-figure sum in a new 2,400sqm fabrication and welding facility at the port. 

Portland Shellfish was formed in 1997 by Nick Assirati and his father. Working from a small ‘hut’ the company has now expanded beyond their expectations and employs 30 people – including two of his three brothers.

Mr Assirati said: “We started off with one product, selling to one customer. Now we have lots of products to lots of customers. 
“Our website has just been revamped too – the company is just doing great.”

Mr Reeves described the business as a “Portland success story”.

In April 2017 South Dorset MP Richard Drax joined chairman of Portland Port, Christopher Langham, to formally cut the ribbon at the extended berth which has since allowed some of the world’s biggest cruise liners to dock at the port. 

Christopher Langham and MP Richard Drax

The new facility, at the outer coaling pier, can accommodate vessels with length overall’s (LOA) of up to 340 metres.

Previously only handling vessels of up to 300m LOA, the extension means that Portland is now one of only a few English Channel ports that can take ships of such size.

The design involved building two large structures 100m apart and linked by walkways. Each structure consists of a 1,200 tonne concrete platform set on seven steel piles driven into the seabed.

The first vessel to use the extension was Holland America’s Koningsdam on May 11 last year, followed Disney Magic on May 23.