The shipping platform

Location: Plymouth is located on the S Devon coast. General overview: Plymouth is a Naval port subject to the jurisdiction of the Queen's Harbour Master (QHM) on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence. Access to the commercial parts of the port is via water controlled and regulated by QHM. All vessels are subject to the QHM's authority and must comply with his directions. Commercial vessels may be delayed to permit the safe passage of Naval vessels, particularly nuclear powered vessels. The port also encompasses the commercial harbours of Millbay Docks, Cattewater and Sutton Harbour. Millbay Docks, owned and operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), comprises a tidal basin specialising in Ro-Ro and cruise ship traffic. The port has one purpose built linkspan enabling loading and discharging of passenger and freight vehicles at any state of the tide. Millbay Docks also has a large modern passenger terminal, extensive vehicle marshalling areas, open storage and cargo sheds which speed up the turnaround of vessels and ease the flow of traffic. Cattewater Harbour is a Trust Port. The privately owned Victoria Wharves, Cattedown Wharves and Phomplett Jetty lie within its boundaries. Sutton Harbour, a non-tidal basin, provides 24 hour access through a lock at the harbour entrance. Traffic figures: Approx 1,940,000t of cargo 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: Millbay Ro-Ro Berth: LOA 200m, draught 8.5m. Cattewater: LOA 150m, draught 9.0m.