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CONTAINER TRAFFIC
The container terminals at Tilbury had another successful year, imported containers increased
from 69,642 in 1970 to 105,720 in 1971.
At one time it was thought that this figure would have been very much increased but two
factors outside the control of the Port of London Authority drastically reduced container traffic
importations into the dock.
On the 1st August, United States Lines ceased operations from 40 Berth and transferred
their service to Felixstowe. This berth was the first ocean container terminal to be operated in
the dock having received its first ship in June 1968. After U.S. Lines left the berth, it ceased
to be operational until the end of the year.
The other factor was the strike of dockworkers in America. This affected container operations
carried out by a Swedish Company — Johnson Line of Stockholm, for a 3 month
period from early August. None of their vessels from the Pacific Coast of North America arrived
to discharge cargo.
In contrast the other three terminals all increased their throughput. 39 berth operated by
Overseas Containers Ltd. for their Australian Service in conjunction with Associated Container
Transportation handled nearly 42,000 import containers of which nearly one half contained
foodstuffs. The Port of London Authority's common user container berth 41/43 handled over
43,000 import containers as compared with 26,640 the previous year, and the Scandinavian
Ferry Terminal at 26 Berth also continued to expand.
The O.C.L. Terminal provided a pattern of regular ship arrivals throughout the year and dealt
with 53 vessels from Australia. During the year the total number of ships used in this trade was
increased by two, a French vessel joining the service in February followed by a Dutch one in
March,making a total of thirteen. Afurther vessel under the Italian flag had yetto be commissioned
at the end of the year.
The control of imported food at 39 Berth was developed after consultation and agreement
with the berth operators and provided for Port Health clearance of all hard frozen foods (plus
some fruit) at the berth. All other food containers were routed to Inland Clearance Depots
for Customs and Health Clearance by local officers.
Of the 20,860 containers of food landed from vessels on this berth approximately 14,000 were
dealt with as required by Sec.5(5) of the Imported Food Regulations 1968, notification being
sent to the "receiving authorities". A further 448, containers were released under the "deferred
examination" procedure. All these contained frozen egg products, the sampling and examination
of which could be more satisfactorily carried out when the goods had been discharged from their
containers and stowed in the cold store at their destination.
Port Health clearance covered 6,852 containers of which 869 were produced for examination
at the Port Health Inspection Shed at 39 Berth provided by Messrs.Overseas Containers Limited.
It is understood that the two companies concerned will be requesting the Port Health Authority
to increase the number of food examinations at this berth in 1972, initially to include more
fruit containers and later to clear general foods. Providing clearance by H.M. Customs is effected
at Tilbury these additional foods will be dealt with by the Port Health Inspectors.
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