Bringing news to South Africa of developments at the UK’s largest port, from the left: Immingham port director John Copping, Humberside Sea and Land consultant Denis Lake, director Mike Loughran and deputy port manager John Fitzgerald.
A DELEGATION from the port of Immingham in the UK visited South Africa in force last week to outline developments that will help local companies export more.
“The South African trade is mutually very important as our port is the Republic’s gateway into the UK for coal, steel, ore and other commodities,” said port director John Copping.
Handling 52 million tonnes per annum, about 9% of the UK’s total seaborne trade, Immingham is the largest business unit in the Associated British Ports (ABP) portfolio of 21 ports.
The delegation spoke to South Africa’s bulk shipowners, charterers and operators to plan continued development of the export trade.
Direct services from Richards Bay, Durban and Saldanha Bay carry more than 450 000 tonnes per annum to Immingham. The port is strategically situated close to the steel industry in North Eastern England and less than ninety minutes from the industrial midlands. It is well served by uncongested motorways and extensive rail connections, attracting more than 20% of all rail freight in the UK, said Copping.
