The shipping platform

Location: Port Talbot is located on the S coast of Wales approx 72km W of Cardiff. General overview: The port is located within easy reach of motorways and has direct mainline rail access. There is a tidal harbour which handles cape-size bulk ore vessels, and the inner docks, which can accommodate smaller heavy-lift Ro-Ro and general cargo vessels. Cargoes handled include dry bulks, forest products, general cargo, mineral and ores, project cargoes, Ro-Ro steel and other metals. Traffic figures: Approx 200 vessels and 5,160,000t of bulk imports 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: Tidal Harbour: LOA 290m, beam 50m, draught 16.7m, 180,000DWT. Old Dock: LOA 130, beam 17.6m, draught 7.7m, 8,000DWT. Largest vessel handled: "Berge Athene" 220,000DWT, loaded to 15.8m with 160,000t of cargo.