Golden start to anniversary year after records tumble

9:41am Wednesday 6th February 2008

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Milford Haven Port Authority has sailed into its 50th anniversary year with an announcement that it handled the largest amount of shipping in its history during 2007.

Figures released on Tuesday show dues-paying shipping in the Haven during the year exceeded 51m gross tonnes, the highest level in its 49 years of operation, beating the previous record set in 2004.

More than 3,000 vessels entered Milford Haven last year, a total of 51,365,634 in gross tonnage. Next year any LNG ships that have already begun arriving in the waterway will add to this tally.

Port Authority chief executive Ted Sangster said the record performance was very gratifying and another indication of the ascendancy of the port in recent years.

He said: "Milford Haven is the biggest port in Wales, and only four other ports in the UK handle more cargo than us.

"We have worked consistently in recently years to become the most highly regarded port in the country. The fact that we have achieved this record is a testimony to the levels of service that we are able to offer, and I pay tribute to the hard work of our staff which has achieved that."

Mr Sangster said with LNG shipping due into Milford Haven very soon, its importance in the national context was set to increase rapidly.

He said: "This year we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the creation of what is now the port authority, so it's very exciting to have achieved this record at this time.

"It's great to set off into the next 50 years on a high, and we welcome the opportunity to contribute to perform in the spotlight that the advent of LNG will inevitably shine on us."