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The trade to the Scandinavian ferry terminal also increased during the year and in November
a further passenger roll on roll off container ship entered the service to cater for the build up in
this trade. The total number of arrivals to this berth rose from 118 in 1969 to 150 in 1970 and a
further increase is expected in 1971.
A Swedish company operating a container trade to the Pacific ports of Canada and North
America brought into service more container vessels to replace conventional tonnage during the
year. This resulted in the number of food containers being imported over 4 berth rising from 680 in
1969 to over 1800 in 1970.
By the end of the year all the operational container berths at Tilbury were very busy; the
Port of London Authority estimated that they were handling 150,000 Containers per annum and
hoped to double this figure by 1972. Two new berths No.45 and No.47 are yet to be commissioned.
Table 1 gives a breakdown of container imports during the year, the figures in brackets being
those for 1969, and Table II gives a breakdown of vessels arriving from various areas, with the
1969 figures bracketed.
The total number of container ship arrivals is inclined to give a misleading picture of the
overall position. Whilst it does show an increase from 944 to 1,000 there was a decrease in the
number of small vessels and an increase in the number of large, this in fact is reflected in the
tonnage figures given which show that the tonnage of containers nearly doubled.
The total number of food containers imported also rose from 7,801 to 20,803.
In September shift working commenced in the Port of London and this necessitated the working
of shift hours by the Port Health Inspectors. Whilst this was necessary throughout all the enclosed
dock systems, it was particularly important on the container terminals where urgent food clearances
are required at short notice.
It was also necessary for routine weekend attendances to be carried out, to expedite health
clearance of foods, which were not even in the port on Friday night and yet were destined for
delivery to all parts of the country before Monday morning.
As mentioned in earlier reports, the control of imported foods in containers takes up a great
deal of the time of those officers engaged in this work, very much longer than that involved with
cargo from a conventional ship. It has been found from experience that the system requires an
inspector's constant attention and availability. Clearances required at short notice with vehicles
waiting to leave, appears to be the pattern of the future. We must, in this respect, keep in step
with the dock industry, which is now geared for speedy delivery.

(1969 Figures In Brackets)
45