The Port of Leith’s newly constructed Charles Hammond Berth showed off its unrivalled deep-water capability as it facilitated the ‘float-off’ marine operation for Type 31 frigate, HMS Venturer, as she entered the River Forth for the first time recently.

The float-off operation carried out in Leith marked a major milestone in the ship’s build journey and demonstrated the sheltered, deep water accessibility of the berth which has been constructed primarily for the offshore wind industry.

HMS Venturer arrived in Leith on a specialist semi-submersible barge, towed from Babcock’s Rosyth facility by tugs operated by Forth Ports’ towage division, Targe Towing. The float-off was a collaborative effort involving Forth Ports teams from marine, engineering and their heavy lift specialists, Forth Projects, who provided the cranage services which played a key role in supporting the operation. This expertise provided the precision handling and lift support to ensure the safe and efficient transition of the ship into the water.

Following the successful float-off in Leith, HMS Venturer was returned under tow to Babcock’s Rosyth facility, where outfitting and systems integration will continue ahead of sea trials.

Commenting on the role of the port in this operation, Derek Knox, Regional Director of Forth Ports said: “This operation was a true collaboration project where marine and engineering and heavy lift experts worked seamlessly to ensure the successful float-off of the brand new HMS Venturer.

“The Charles Hammond Berth in Leith was opened last year and has been designed primarily to handle the world’s largest offshore wind vessels, and due to its deep water capability and sheltered location, the berth can also be used for bespoke marine project work such as this one. Our operations, marine and towage experts all worked as one team with Babcock, Malin and Forth Logistics to ensure a safe and smooth operation. We wish the HMS Venturer well for the future.”

HMS Venturer is the first of five Type 31 frigates to be delivered for the Royal Navy by Babcock.

2 July 2025                                             – ends –

Captain Alan McPherson, Chief Harbour Master at Forth Ports has been voted in as the new President of the UK Harbour Masters Association taking over the role at the Association AGM in Southampton on 11th June from Captain Paul Brooks who completed his two year tenure as President.

The United Kingdom Harbour Masters’ Association (UKHMA) is the one of the world’s oldest and largest Harbour Master & Port Marine Management Associations and consists of over 500 Harbour Masters, Port professionals and Commercial members from ports, harbours and marinas across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the UK Crown Dependencies.

Captain McPherson is an very experienced mariner, Harbour Master and Senior Port executive with over 25 years in the sector. He is the Chief Harbour Master for Forth Ports where he has been in post for nearly a decade and is responsible for the busy waterways of the Forth and Tay and has an operating area of 280 square miles of navigable waters, including two specialist marine terminals for oil and gas export and provides other marine services, such as towage and conservancy.

Alan was previously with the Port of Tyne Authority where he held various roles in the 15 years with the company including Senior Pilot, Deputy Harbour Master and Harbour Master. He has also worked with the Port of Sunderland, and prior to that a career at sea.

Commenting on his appointment, Captain McPherson said: “I am honoured to have been voted to the role of President of the UKHMA and my thanks to Captain Brooks for the past two years. I have been in the sector for nearly three decades and a member of UKHMA since 2005. The UKHMA is well respected  in the industry, and I am looking forward to representing and presenting the views of the members for the next two years. Harbour Masters and marine professionals are an essential part of our Ports and Harbours and I look forward to working collaboratively with all our stakeholders in promoting the objectives of the Association, sharing best practice and creating an environment where open, positive and constructive dialogue exists.’’

The Association represents a unique source of relevant expert knowledge and experience across a range of port and marine operations. The main objective of the Association, which was formed in 1993, is to encourage the safe and efficient conduct of marine operations in ports as laid out in the Port and Marine Facility Safety Code and engage with, advise and consult with the UK and the Devolved Nation’s Governments and associated regulatory Maritime Agencies.

Martin Willis AFNI, Executive Officer of the UKHMA said: “On behalf of Paul Brooks, our out going Association President and the full membership of the UKHMA we welcome Alan as the newly elected President of the Association and wish him all success in the role. Alan has been appointed by his industry peers entirely on merit and richly deserves the honour to lead our highly regarded professional organisation and shall undertake the role as the lead representative of the Association with great confidence, assurance and the full support of all members of the UK Harbour Masters Association during the tenure of his Presidency”.

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To mark National Windrush Day 2025, the Port of Tilbury has today (20 June) released a commissioned film which takes a retrospective look at celebratory events hosted by the port, the Tilbury on the Thames Trust, and the local community and the legacy they have helped to create.

77 years ago on the 22 June 1948, the port played a significant role for the Windrush generation as it was their first arrival point into the UK after a long voyage on board the Empire Windrush from the Caribbean. When she docked, a generation of people were able to move through the Cruise Terminal on Tilbury’s riverside to start their new life in the UK.

Featuring contributions from Paul Dale, Chair of the Tilbury of the Thames Trust and Lucy Emma Harris, Community Liaison Manager for Forth Ports, the film celebrates the success of securing National Lottery Heritage funding to allow the historic railway station, which many Windrush people used on route to London and beyond, to be regenerated to a community space. Using archive footage of previous events and historical moments, the film also looks ahead to Windrush 80 when the railway transformation works will be complete.

To see the film in full please use this link: https://vimeo.com/1094327482/81821617f5?share=copy [credit: Forth Ports]

Paul Dale, Chair of Tilbury on the Thames Trust and Chief Operating Officer of Forth Ports commented: “We are proud of the part the Port of Tilbury played when the Empire Windrush arrived in our port in 1948. It is important for us all to remember the positive impact the Windrush generation played then and now in our local and national culture.

“We have traditionally held celebrations here in the port and although we cannot host an event this year, we are excited about the railway station refurbishment project and we look forward to the completion of this in time for the Windrush 80^th anniversary celebrations in 2028.”

20 June 2025                                   -ends-

Forth Ports announces their support for the national Beach of Dreams coastal arts festival taking place in May. Forth Ports, which operates ports in Scotland and in Tilbury in London, hosted the national launch of the festival in their London Cruise terminal on the banks of the Thames earlier this month and now, they are supporting the roll out of an artist-led programme of community engagement across Fife working with a number of local schools and community groups in the region.

Beach of Dreams, presented by Kinetika, is a UK-wide coastal arts festival activating and exploring the unique heritage, cultures and climate futures of our coastlines which will see ambitious new participatory art commissions, creative walks and events taking place across the country during May.

Working with schools in Kirkcaldy, Burntisland, Rosyth and Methil artist Julie Brook alongside the FifeArtMatters and Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, will create Tide Line, a striking 100-metre tidal sculpture shaped by the rhythms of the Fife coastline and built with local communities using natural materials.

Workshops with schools and community groups will bring people into the creative process, while a 14-day journey along the 117-mile Fife Coastal Path with Fife Coast and Countryside Trust – from Kincardine to St Andrews – will connect participants and groups through walking, cycling, and creative events.

The commission culminates in a moving performance and choral work, created in collaboration with composer Jay Capperauld, poet Niall Campbell, and choreographer Rosemary Lee OBE – echoing the rhythm of the tides.

Commenting on the project, Stuart Wallace, CEO of Forth Ports said: “We are excited to support the Beach of Dreams project nationally and particularly in Fife in the coastal communities where we work. It is not often that a national project like this spans a number of our locations in Scotland and in Tilbury and it shows our group commitment to this project.

“We are looking forward to collaborating with Kinetika again, as well as Julie Brook, ArtMovesFife and the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust to deliver this inspirations project which will showcase the unique coastline of Fife.”

Ali Pretty, Artistic Director, Beach of Dreams and Kinetika said: “It’s incredibly energising to have the continued support of Forth Ports as Beach of Dreams has grown across the UK. Their commitment – from Tilbury to Leith and now into Fife – enables us to root the project within communities and schools, where young people are central to reimagining our coastal futures. What’s unfolding along the Fife coastline is truly extraordinary: communities becoming co-creators in a powerful, collective journey to shape a shared vision for the future of our coasts.”

19 May 2025                                              – ends –

Growth plans have been unveiled by the Port of Tilbury’s owners, Forth Ports, to further expand the Thames-based port and industrial complex as it submits an outline planning application to Thurrock Council to redevelop a 100-acre brownfield site located immediately adjacent to Tilbury2 (T2) to support its major markets.

The 100-acre site (the size of 70 football pitches), will create a new port area, to be called Tilbury3 (T3) which, as part of the Thames Freeport, will benefit from tax site incentives to bring investment, trade and jobs to the area.

The planning proposals for T3 can accommodate a range of activities including general industrial storage, warehousing and processing; a construction material and aggregate terminal; container handling and storage; and vehicle storage.

This section of brownfield land is part of the old Tilbury Power Station site and sits adjacent to T2 allowing T3 to share the same vehicle access as T2, connecting to the strategic highway network, and access to the existing river and the rail freight network.

If approved by Thurrock Council, the Port of Tilbury will submit a detailed planning application and will provide the layout, scale and appearance information in further detail, as well as building on the current EIA submitted with the outline consent application, considering the specific environmental aspects of the area. As with other local developments at T2 and the London Distribution Park (LDP), the Port of Tilbury has identified the specific areas of ecological interest in the site area and will implement a similar habitat creation strategy for protected species. This will build on the Port/s success in delivering biodiversity net gain through its developments.

Stuart Wallace, CEO of Forth Ports Group, said: “This is an exciting time for the Port of Tilbury as we submit our plans for Tilbury3 which form part of our growth investment strategy to expand our operations in support of our customer’s growth markets in renewable power, recycling and logistics. T3 will sustain existing roles and create many new jobs; contribute to the local economy; and future proof the Port of Tilbury in supporting the economies of Greater London and the South East.”

Martin Whiteley, CEO of Thames Freeport said: “The Port of Tilbury is a central economic site in the Thames Freeport and its plans to expand Tilbury3 will boost growth and create new good value jobs for local people.  The new development at Tilbury will further support the Thames Freeport ambition to attract international investment and enable regeneration of local communities.”

The proposed delivery of T3 would be phased, with works starting in 2026 with a target of being fully operational by 2030.

15 May 2025                                 -ends-