The shipping platform

Location: Liverpool is located at the mouth of the River Mersey on the W coast of England. General overview: The port which covers the Royal Seaforth Docks, Liverpool Docks, Birkenhead Docks and the Tranmere Oil Terminal has extensive cargo handling facilities within its numerous docks, basins and drydocks. Garston Docks are covered under separate entry. The port possesses over 47km of quayage which provide accommodation for tankers, general cargo, bulk cargo, container, Ro-Ro and cruise vessels. Traffic figures: Approx 29,890,000t of cargo, including approx 12,000,000t of crude oil and petroleum and 358,000TEU 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: Pier Head Cruise Terminal: LOA 300m, draught 11.0m. Gladstone Entrance Lock: LOA 292m, beam 32.6m, Max draught 11.6m all high tides, 12.8m on spring tides. Langton Entrance Lock: LOA 215m, beam 32.6m, draught 11.0m. Huskisson Dock: LOA 199m, beam 26.5m, draught 9.5m. Birkenhead Alfred Lock: LOA 192m, beam 26.5m, max draught 8.6m. Tranmere Oil Terminal: LOA 345m, beam 57.4m, draught 12.5-14.0m, 210,000t displacement. Largest vessel handled (Tramnmere Oil Terminal): ''Bauhinia'', LOA 332m, beam 58m, 158,000GT, part loaded with 82,000t of Angolan crude.