Ports and harbours
Port of Liverpool
Historically, Liverpool's city centre grew with offices supporting the shipping trade. However, the port industries have now mostly moved northwards out of the city boundary.
Today, the "Port of Liverpool" is concentrated along the River Mersey frontage at Bootle and Seaforth. Only the small Garston Dock remains in South Liverpool.
Cargo passing through the port is at an all-time high. Since 2004/5 this has amounted to a record 33 million tonnes annually (far more than its heyday in the 1930s). The current recession has hit the industry like most others, with cargo volumes having fallen 9% during 2009.
The port is owned by Peel Ports and operated by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. Since 2000, more than £100 million has been invested in providing new facilities and enhanced services. This includes £25 million on expanding and upgrading the Seaforth Container Terminal.
Other companies have also invested heavily in the port to improve their position in the markets in which they work.
All this is shown on the Port of Liverpool's website which shows how the Port of Liverpool has become a major gateway for international trade.
The port also plays an important role in the Liverpool Atlantic Gateway SIA (Strategic Investment Area) programme to support new and existing local industries in providing jobs for Liverpool residents.
Garston Dock
The London & North Western Railway Company built Garston Dock in 1853 as a rival to the Mersey docks. From the dock, Lancashire coal and timber were shipped to Ireland. For over a century, bananas were one of the major imports.
Also used for ship breaking, Garston dock dismantled its last two steamers in 1978.
Today the dock is owned by Associated British Ports and deals in timber, steel and containers. By 2003, new business had helped the company reach pre-tax profits of £141 million, a five percent rise on the previous year. Garston now handles more fertiliser, grain and cereal imports including organic wheat through its Soil Association-approved facilities. New traffic also includes bulk sea-salt, coal and exports of bagged fertiliser.
Albert Dock
Renovated in the early 1980's, the Albert Dock complex remains one of Merseyside's top tourist attractions. Shops, bars, restaurants, offices, apartments and museums now surround the moored yachts.
The Liverpool South Docks, of which the Albert Dock is a part, are owned and managed by British Waterways. Canoeing, water-skiing, scuba diving and other watersports are very popular here.
Both Albert Dock and the adjoining Canning Half Tide Dock provide excellent waterside frontage within Liverpool City Centre.
Liverpool Marina
Since the mid-1980's, Liverpool Marina has developed to provide berths for 350 yachts. It now features a harbourside club and restaurant.
This waterfront location is also a popular residential area with many attractive apartment blocks completed in recent years.
Other useful information:
The Mersey Port Health Authority protects public and animal health against threats of disease being imported from countries outside the EC, and which may come through the Port of Liverpool.
It does this by applying a range of EC and UK legislation to ships, commercial aircraft and their respective cargoes. In particular the Authority deals with imported food and products of animal origin.
You can contact them by ringing 0151 233 2583 or by email: port.health@liverpool.gov.uk