Portland Port has announced it is “embarking on its largest and most ambitious improvement project to date”.
The port has received the necessary approvals to start a £26 million investment to boost its cruise ship capacity.
The development will see the existing deep water berth removed and replaced with a new extended berth. The port’s primary cruise berth, the outer coaling pier, will also be extended by 74 metres.
Overall the project will deliver 16,000m2 of additional quayside space, allowing Portland Port to handle two cruise ships up to 350 metres long at the same time.
Preparatory works are underway and the berths should be operational by 1 May 2023. Final surfacing works will then take place between October 2023 and February 2024.
A ‘milestone’ for Portland Port
Portland Port landside general manager Alex Hayes, who is overseeing the project, said: “This is a key investment for the port and demonstrates our commitment to the continued development of our infrastructure.
“The project has taken a lot of time and planning to take it from its initial conception through to implementation.
“There is still a lot of work to be done before the project is complete, however the outcome will be a milestone for the port and its future.”
The port’s commercial general manager Ian McQuade added: “The new facilities will enable Portland Port to keep pace with the increasing demands from our existing cruise and cargo customers while offering the opportunity for future growth.
“The size of vessels calling at Portland over the last number of years has continued to grow and this investment will enable our business to keep ahead of this trend.
“This is the largest investment Portland Port has ever undertaken and it is a resounding vote of confidence in the business by the company’s owners. The future looks very exciting for the port”.
