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The large ocean container ships were fortunate if they remained in Port for 24 hours, and 12
hours was more usual. The small continental carriers usually arrived and sailed in three or four
hours. This fact is emphasised by the number of small container ships arriving at the "short sea
container berth" (No. 43) during the year. There were, in fact, 679 of these arrivals and nearly
half a million tons of cargo was handled — imports and exports. Over 42,000 containers were
handled on this berth alone; 24,500 carried imports and of these 5,588 contained foodstuffs.
It is anticipated that the present ban on the Australian Terminal at 39 Berth will be lifted
early in 1970. Once this has been done it is reasonable to assume that the other berths awaiting
development will, in fact, be completed and become operational.
From experience gained to date, the control of containerised foods occupies a great deal of
time of the Officers engaged in this type of food control. Manifest documentation is necessary
and exceedingly important in the efficiency of carrying out the statutory duties imposed on the
Authority by the Imported Food Regulations 1968, and they continue to increase.
The expansion in this type of traffic at Tilbury coupled with the possible introduction of
"shift working" during 1970 will place an increasing burden on the existing staff and consideration
will have to be given to the employment of additional Port Health Inspectors if the
efficiency of the service is to be maintained.
43 Berth Operations
The joint O.C.L./A.C.T. Australian Service using containers for the transportation of both
general cargo and foodstuffs was inaugurated this year with the arrival of the "ENCOUNTER
BAY" at Antwerp on the 14th May, 1969.
Because of labour difficulties at Tilbury, which made the new 39 Container Berth idle, the
initial container vessel and subsequent vessels were obliged to discharge their containers either
at Antwerp or Rotterdam, thus requiring the transhipment of all London containers by feeder ship
service through the 43 (E.U.R.) Berth at Tilbury.
A total of 21 Container Vessels arrived at Continental Ports during 1969. The total number
of food containers dealt with at Tilbury is shown in Table III. Throughout the period of operation
an average 10% examination has been carried out of all non-refrigerated containers. In respect of
Frozen Meats, both edible and inedible, the % examination has been between 50% and 100% and
has been visual.
During this first 7 months of operation, many difficulties have arisen in the examination of
containers because of labour difficulties in handling. These, however, in the main have been
overcome with the assistance and co-operation of both the Shipping Companies and the Port of
London Authority. This first period has, therefore, provided invaluable experience in the handling
of containerised foods from Australia.