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The three berths, which apart from 39 Berth occupy the entire quay space on the west side
of the container dock, provide over 2,500 feet of quay for vessels to berth. Trade to these three
berths, which are in fact worked as a single unit by the Port of London Authority, had a successful
year and some 800 vessels were dealt with.
The main services operated from this terminal were to Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Leningrad,
Riga, Helsinki, Gdynia, Rostock, U.S.A., Canada, and from September, New Zealand. One
shipping company running to Canada (Atlantic Coast), which has been operating from this terminal,
transferred their vessels to 39 Berth (The O.C.L. Terminal) in September, at the same time as a
company in the Australian trade left 39 Berth to operate the new Australian/New Zealand service
from the 41/45 Complex.
Whilst the number of vessels arriving from near continental ports decreased, the vessels themselves
were somewhat larger and the container throughput on these various trades was not reduced .
The trade to Russia increased during the year, and by the end of 1972 was being operated by three
vessels. 47 arrivals were dealt with compared with 30 the year before.
The number of imported containers dealt with on the "Multi User Terminals" rose from 48,000
in 1971 to over 63,000 in 1972. The total container movements over these terminals - import and
export was in the region of 122,000 during the year, the Port of London have set a target in excess
of 200,000 for 1973.
In addition to the Multi User Terminals already referred to, two other important terminals
operate within the dock, both of them had successful operations during 1972and are briefly referred
to hereunder.
39 Berth. As already mentioned, one partner operating in the consortium of companies trading to
Australia withdrew from this terminal in September, and its place was taken bya shipping company
engaged in the Canadian Trade. The terminal was exceedingly busy during 1972 and handled a
total of 75 Ocean going container vessels compared with 53 the year before. The number of imported
containers rose from 41,765 in 1971 to 44,746 in 1972.
26 Berth This Berth only handling trade to Sweden by the "ferry" service, operated throughout
the year and accounted for 191 arrivals. The number of containers dealt with was approximately
the same as in 1971, but there was a significant increase in the number of refrigerated meat
trailers arriving on this terminal, all of which were subject to inspection.
Food container control and inspections continued to take up a great deal of the time of your
officers attached to the Tilbury Division, a large amount of paper work and documentation is
necessary if food importations are to be controlled in an efficient manner, apart from the practical
aspect of the inspections themselves.
All the terminals at Tilbury handling this traffic work seven days a week, 24 hours a day
including Bank Holiday periods, and attendances are necessary to ensure that foodstuffs arriving
over weekend and public holidays do not escape the Inspectors' attention. When it is remembered
that vessels can arrive, berth and commence discharging operations at any time, sometimes with
the particulars of her cargo arriving with her, it will be appreciated how necessary it is for the
Port Health Inspectors to make regular week end attendances. Fortunately, as officers of H.M.
Customs do not generally clear imported cargo outside the hours of 0700 hrs. to 2100 hrs., night
attendances are not necessary at the present time, but should this policy be changed with further
expansion in the future, Port Health control throughout the 24 hour working day would have to be
seriously considered.
In the early part of the year, as in 1971, attendances by your Officers on Saturdays and
Sundays did not allow for every weekend to be covered, but as the year progressed it became
obvious thatboth these days required the attendance of a Port Health Inspectorif control measures
were to be effective. In the not too distant future, it may well be necessary for Tilbury Dock to be
manned 7 days a week from 0700 to 2100 hrs. This would then require the operation of a new
shift working system and also the employment of additional staff.
As trade increased to berths 41-43 & 45, it soon became obvious that the only shed provided
by the Port of London Authority for inspection purposes was quite inadequate. Following various
meetings, the Port Authority agreed to provide a proper examination shed forcontainer inspections,
and construction work on this facility was in progress by the end of the year.
Further meetings and discussions are now taking place regarding the provision of a small
amount of cold storage space and a proper meat inspection room in Tilbury Dock. Meat imports
through Tilbury are now more than sufficient to justify the provision of both of these items, and it
is hoped that they will both be provided during 1973.
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