Port Talbot Docks

Port Talbot docks is a docks located next to Port Talbot Steelworks in the industrial town of Port Talbot, Wales, UK.

It is owned and operated by Associated British Ports. It has the deepest berthing facilities in the Severn estuary and can accommodate ships of up to DWT|170,000|metric|first=yes.

The docks are used primarily by Port Talbot steelworks for the export of steel products and the import of raw materials for manufacturing steel.

The Port Talbot docks complex consist of an inner set of floating docks and an outer tidal basin. Construction of the tidal basin began in 1964 and the whole basin covers about convert|500|acre|km2. [ [http://www.coastguard.ukf.net/pthistory.html Port Talbot Coastguard Search and Rescue Emergency Team History ] ] The tidal basin is capable of handling ships of up to 170,000 dwt and is used mostly for the import of iron ore and coal for use by nearby Port Talbot Steelworks. The inner floating docks were constructed in 1898 [ [http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/downloads/udp/complete_lowquality.pdf Complete.pdf ] ] and were closed in 1959. They were re-opened in 1998 for commercial shipping but in March 2007 for the import of some steel products [ [http://www.abports.co.uk/news20075640.htm Port Talbot Docks Handles First Steel Cargo For Nearly Four Decades ] ] and are capable of handling ships of up to 8,000 dwt. [ [http://www.abport.co.uk/custinfo/ports/port/facilities.htm Associated British Ports ] ] There have been proposals for the development of an intermodal freight terminal at the port.

The northern area of the docks is designated as the Port Talbot Industrial estate. The development of the Port Talbot Peripheral Distributor Road included roundabouts which provide direct access to this development area and a potential development area adjacent to the docks. The local council intends to develop a new link to provide access to the tidal basin (Deep Water Harbour). The new link will pass through the south of Port Talbot Steelworks and have links to the under-used whaves in the docks which have development potential. [http://cistercian-way.newport.ac.uk/place.asp?PlaceID=66]

References

External links

* [http://www.abports.co.uk/custinfo/ports/port.htm ABP: Port of Port Talbot]
* [http://www.swanseadocks.co.uk/Port%20Talbot%20Dock.htm Retired Section Swansea Docks: Port Talbot Docks and Tidal Harbour]