South West Ports ’Gateways for Growth’ PRODUCED FOR THE SOUTH WEST REGIONAL PORTS AssOCIATION BY THE BRITISH PORTS AssOCIATION CONTENTS Ports in the South West PORTS IN THE SOUTH WESt – 3 PORTS IN THE SOUTH WEST “GATEWAYS FOR GROWth”. The region served by the South West 8 COMMERCIAL SECTOrs Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) stretches from the tip of the South West 16 PORTS - THE FUTURE Peninsular to the Severn Estuary and Poole Harbour, a coastal route of 700miles. It has more coastline than any other English region, making its maritime economy fundamental to economic growth. SUPPORTING THE REGION Ports and harbours in the South West have a unique role. They are gateways into and out of the region and provide a base for trade and employment serving local, regional and national markets. South West ports and harbours are part of a almost 19m tonnes of cargo. As a UK ports industry which is the largest, and proportion of the national total, this is 3.4 arguably the most diverse, in Europe. More per cent of all UK imports and exports by than 95 per cent of UK imports and exports tonnage. This however, is a small part of pass through British ports. Our economy is the story. The figure does not include the therefore heavily dependent on their vitality value and impact of the leisure industry, and efficiency. passenger traffic, the sizeable numbers of fish landings in the South West or the role It is estimated that port and harbour related that harbours play in attracting tourists to activity, including cargo handling and the area. storage, warehousing, fish processing, ship repair and construction, maritime leisure As well as freight, ports in the South and recreation, generates enough economic West handle over a million passenger activity to support more than 32,000 jobs in movements each year. Continental services marine businesses in the South West region sail from Plymouth, Poole and Weymouth alone. There are more than 2,700 marine to France and Spain providing the region dependent companies and organisations, with important European freight links. There ornwall Marine Network ornwall which have a combined turnover of £1.3bn are essential service routes to the Channel C per year. Islands and the Isles of Scilly. ourtesy of ourtesy C In 2007 ports in the South West handled The region is also located amongst some 2 3 and motor boating sector. how they influence the role of the region’s PORT LOCATIONS ports. For example, 25 per cent of the total UK marine sector’s employment is The South West has a population of just concentrated in the South West. Cornwall’s over 5 million. It is the largest physical marine sector accounts for almost 1 in region in England, yet its population density 7 marine jobs in the UK and 8 per cent is lower than any other. Since much of the of the UK’s marine industry turnover. A area is located in close proximity to the sea, clear demonstration of the ‘cluster’ effect a large number of smaller communities the maritime sector creates is the port of have grown in coastal areas, dependent on Falmouth. Over 42 per cent of all Cornish the sea for a living. marine businesses are located in and around Falmouth, accounting for some 181 The population is predominantly rural, businesses and almost 3,000 jobs. but the urban and rural parts of the region combine to provide a diverse economic ABOUT THE REGION picture with some stark disparities. With the Ports and harbours are products of their exception of some of the areas surrounding locations. They vary widely in their size and Bristol, the South West has a small but type of activity. Whatever their location, vibrant manufacturing base. they closely reflect the economy and characteristics of the region. This section Since the early 1990s the South West’s examines some of the factors at play and economy has, in general terms, performed of the most productive fishing grounds increasingly contributes to local economies Figure … Types of activities at ports in the South West in the world and the industry remains an around Britain’s coastline. Nationally, the ACTIVITIES AT PORTS IN SOUTH WEST ENGLAND (SWRPA membership survey 2008) important employer. industry’s value has been estimated at £2.2bn and the South West is a UK leader in oil and offshore The marine leisure market in the UK providing facilities for the leisure yachting Offshore Energy Ro-ro cargo Containers ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION to have supported 362,000 jobs, or 1.2% of all ferry traffic The ports industry commissioned Oxford Economics employment in the UK. fuel oils to carry out an economic contribution study of Foot Passengers Ship build Repair the port and maritime industries. The results were Collectively ports and the maritime sector naval vessels launched by the Ports and Shipping Minister Jim contributed £17.9 billion to GDP, with the ports Cruise ship Visits Fitzpatrick MP and the Chair of the Commons themselves contributing £7.1 billion in tax revenues Cargo Transport Select Committee Louise Ellman MP. to the Exchequer. This is more than the hotels Boat Building The study found that, the ports sector directly sector and greater than the contribution of the fishing employed 132,000 people equating to 0.5% of total aerospace industry. It also identified that for every Leisure employment in the UK. Adding together direct, job generated in a port, another 1.74 jobs will be 0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00% 100.00% indirect and induced impacts, ports were estimated generated elsewhere in the economy. PercentagePercentage of Portsof Ports in Sample in Sample 4 5 1 from safety and security, to environmental Municipal ports are run by local authorities protection and managing coastal and and overseen by elected councillors. ECOPORTS estuarine habitats. They also provide Councils can have responsibility for a Environmental concerns have become facilities for a wide range of users and number of ports and harbours. Municipal increasingly important for ports and the support a variety of businesses. ports in the South West include Weymouth, sector is rigorously regulated. An example West Bay, Lyme Regis, Exeter, Tor Bay, of a port-driven environmental initiative PORT OWNErsHIP Salcombe, Truro and Penryn, Penzance, is the EcoPorts Foundation. EcoPorts The three models of port ownership (Trust, St Ives and a group of north Cornish and is a network of ports and port related Municipal & privatised) exist side by side Devon ports including Newquay, Bideford, stakeholders established in 1999 who in the South West Region. Whatever their Appledore, Barnstable and Ilfracombe. share environmental experience and good ornwall Marine Network ornwall ownership, ports operate on a commercial Cornwall Council became a single unitary practice. The initiative enables ports to C basis independently from government authority in 2009, and is now one of identify their environmental strengths and and receive almost no public funding or the UK’s largest local authority port weaknesses through a special ‘self diagnosis ourtesy of ourtesy C assistance. This independence is a particular management bodies. Several Councils methodology’ (SDM). Certification by Lloyds feature of the industry. in the region have received national Register is available under the scheme to better than the UK average although the recognition through the government’s validate environmental management. The economic climate has made the region A trust port is an independent statutory ‘Leading Lights’ award for managing initiative is an example of how ports are financially more fragile. Some areas have body governed by its own local legislation their harbours in line with high corporate proactively minimising their impact on excellent connections with the transport and controlled by an independent board. It governance and best practice standards. the environment, using shared knowledge network. More remote areas can be has a high degree of accountability. Profits within the network. South West ports have disadvantaged by poor transport links. are re-invested into the port. Trust ports in SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT been at the forefront in environmental Upheavals in traditional industries such as the South West include Poole, Teignmouth, The sustainable development agenda drives management, especially as many are mining, fishing and agriculture have also Dartmouth, Yealm, Cattewater (Plymouth), public policy. Examples include the water situated in Areas of Outstanding Natural played their part. Looe, Polperro, Fowey, Mevagissey, quality targets of the Water Framework Beauty or in areas designated as of “Special Falmouth, Porthleven, Newlyn, Padstow Directive, proposals for the introduction Scientific Interest” Although the South West’s economy has and Gloucester. of formal marine planning, and the impact grown faster than the UK average over the of European initiatives such as the Marine Carbon Emissions by Mode past 10 years, there are still areas where Privatised ports are privately owned Strategy Directive. All significant port local economies are performing poorly. In companies and can often be part of a larger developments have to be environmentally this economically mixed region, therefore, port group - for example ABP Teignmouth assessed, and port activities such as ports and harbours have been able to and ABP Plymouth Millbay are both owned dredging are closely controlled by a provide both stability and opportunities for by Associated British Ports, whilst Falmouth rigorous licensing system. regeneration and investment. Ports can be Docks are owned by A & P Falmouth. The and are economic drivers, opening up areas largest privately owned port in the region It is also worth noting that of all the major to industry and markets. is the port of Bristol, a significant UK port transport modes, shipping has the least serving a national market.