The shipping platform

Location: Falmouth lies near the mouth of the River Fal on SW coast of England. General overview: Falmouth has facilities for bunkering, ship repair, cruise vessels, cargo handling, explosives - loading and transhipment, fish landing and an oil rig lay by berth. It is one of the major ports of the English Channel and includes the world's third biggest natural harbour conveniently placed for the shipping lanes of Northern Europe. The deep water harbour provides sheltered anchorage for vessels awaiting orders, seeking shelter, undertaking stores or crew change. It also has the UK's largest offshore bunkering facility providing all grades of marine fuel. Falmouth Bay and Carrick Roads are among the few locations in the United Kingdom for the transhipment of explosives. There is a first class mooring buoy in the Cross Roads which can be used as a safe berth for casualties. Extensive lay up facilities are available on the upper reaches of the River Fal for vessels up to LOA 219m. Falmouth Docks are primarily a ship repair yard accepting casualty, although various cargoes can be handled including coal, stone products, scrap, forest products, feedstuffs, grain, fertilisers, general cargo and containers, with passenger ships now calling regularly. Fishing is a long established industry at Falmouth and the port lies close to some of the best fish and shell fishing grounds in the UK. Falmouth bay lies within reach of the SW approaches and the English Channel. Traffic figures: Approx 1,000 vessels exceeding 75m LOA handled annually. Load line zone: North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31. Max size: Alongside: Duchy Wharf: LOA 240m, draught 8.0m. Falmouth Docks: LOA 280m. Unlimited in Falmouth Bay. Cross Roads Buoy LOA 207m, anchorage in Carrick Roads LOA 203m, moorings at lay up in King Harry Reach LOA 219m. Largest vessel handled in the Bay: 413,000DWT, LOA 366m, draught 25m.