Swansea docks

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Swansea Docks (ABP Name: Port of Swansea) is an Atlantic shipping port in Swansea, south Wales. It is located immediately south east of Swansea city centre. In the mid 19th century, the port was exporting 60% of the world's copper from factories situated in the Tawe valley.[1] The working docks area, which comprises the Kings Dock and Queens Dock, is currently owned and operated by Associated British Ports and the northern part around the Prince of Wales Dock is undergoing re-development into a new urban area. The development area is branded the SA1 Swansea Waterfront.

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[edit] Construction

Increases in industrial output and in trade in copper, zinc, iron and tinplate combined with the developments in shipping (whereby steamships of greater tonnage were replacing smaller sailing vessels) meant that by the late 1800s Swansea's harbour was in desperate need of expansion.

The Swansea Harbour Trust commissioned the construction of the Prince of Wales Dock, the first on the east side of the river. Opened in 1881 by the Prince & Princess of Wales (later Edward VII and Queen Alexandra), it was not completed until 1882. An additional expansion occurred in 1898. The North Quay frontage was let to the Great Western Railway, the Neath and Brecon Railway and the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway company, which linked the Dolais Valley and Rhondda valley coalfields directly with the docks[2].

Docks which have existed or still exist in the complex are[3]:

  • North Dock (construction 1852 - 1859) - filled in and redeveloped as the Parc Tawe retail complex
  • South Dock (construction 1852 - 1859) - redeveloped as the Maritime Quarter
  • Prince of Wales Dock (opened 1881) - undergoing redevelopment
  • King's Dock (opened 1909) - used for freight operations
  • Queen's Dock (opened 1920) - used for freight operations

[edit] Port facilities

The port has three transit sheds with 25,000 m² (270,000 sq ft) of storage space, 17 quayside cranes, two drydocks, a roll-on/roll-off berth and container terminal.[4] It offers warehouses and facilities for handling dry bulks, minerals, ores, forest products and general cargo.[5]

[edit] Ferry services

There is a roll on/roll off ferry terminal in the western part of the docks. Up until 2007, a regular ferry to Ringaskiddy in County Cork, Ireland departed from here. The ferry was operated by Swansea Cork Ferries. The ferry service is suspended for 2007 and the ferry company hope to resume the service in 2008.[6]

[edit] Future plans

In written evidence presented to the Welsh Assembly's Enterprise and Learning Committee in January 2008, Swansea University stated that it was "at an advanced stage of discussion" about a new 'Innovation Campus' on a second site.[7] On 20 March 2008, the university announced that it would conduct a more detailed examination and feasibility assessment of a 100-acre (0.40 km²) site off Fabian Way, covering an area from the docks and the former BP plant to the Site of Special Scientific Interest at Crymlyn Bog.[8] The new campus could be home to Engineering, Computing, Telecommunications, the Business and Law Schools and a range of offices for large and small companies.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Image Engineers of Swansea
  2. ^ Prince of Wales Dock - Swansea Heritage Net - History in pictures
  3. ^ GENUKI: Swansea Timeline
  4. ^ Associated British Ports
  5. ^ Associated British Ports
  6. ^ BBC NEWS | Wales | South West Wales | Swansea-Cork ferry is suspended
  7. ^ EL(3)-03-08 : Paper 1 : Evidence to the Committee inquiry into the economic contribution of higher education - Swansea University
  8. ^ http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161366&command=displayContent&sourceNode=161366&contentPK=20194195&folderPk=88499

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 51.61646° N 3.91844° W