Increase in UK Port Traffic

Traffic at UK ports rose by one per cent in 2000 to reach a record 573 million tonnes (Mt), according to a report, Maritime Statistics 2000, issued today by the Department for Transport Local Government and the Regions. The report says that at the end of 2000, UK companies owned 624 trading vessels of 100 gross tons and over with a tonnage of 10.5 million deadweight tonnes. This is 46 per cent higher than a year earlier, reversing previous declines in UK company owned tonnage. Port freight traffic in 2000 · Inwards traffic rose by 9 Mt (three per cent) to 316 Mt, while outwards traffic fell by 2 Mt (one per cent) to 257 Mt. · Traffic at the major ports (generally those with at least one Mt of cargo) totalled 556 Mt, accounting for 97 per cent of all UK port traffic in 2000. · Bulk fuels accounted for 54 per cent of all major ports traffic, other bulks for 17 per cent and container & Ro-Ro traffic for 24 per cent. Source: Holland & Knight LLP