Port of Port Talbot

Port Talbot is one of only a few harbours in the UK capable of handling cape-size vessels of up to 170,000 dwt. It is located within easy reach of the open sea, has direct mainline rail access and lies adjacent to the M4 motorway. The port comprises of the Tidal Harbour, which handles cape-size bulk vessels, and the docks, which can accommodate smaller heavy-lift, project, and general cargo vessels. This nationally strategic port asset has significant development opportunities available for the construction of additional berths and cargo-handling facilities.

Port Talbot Tidal Harbour

  • Constructed in the 1970s to create one of the deepest berths in the UK

  • Predominantly used for Tata imports of coking coal, minerals and ores 

General cargo

  • Handles a wide variety of traffics including processed slag, sand, cement, steel, and heavy-lift cargoes 

Offshore wind

  • Unique port location for vessels up to 16m draught

  • The potential to accommodate a major, purpose-built deep-water facility capable of serving UK and worldwide offshore markets

  • The proposed area for offshore wind development, in the southern corner of the harbour, could provide up to 28 ha of land. The facility would have 24-hour deep-water access to serve the Bristol Channel Zone 

Key statistics and berthing information

  • Handles around 9 million tonnes annually

  • Total port acreage = 845 acres 

 

 

 

 

Maximum theoretical acceptance of the lock*

Dock, Jetty or Quay

Quay length

Length

Beam

Draught

Approx. dwt

Tidal Harbour-South Berth

305 m

300 m*

Unrestricted

16.5 m*

170,000

Tidal Harbour-North Berth

 

300 m*

Unrestricted

15.0 m

170,000

Port Talbot Docks

924 m

130 m

17.7 m

7.7 m

8,000

*actual acceptance on specific berths is subject to the details set out in the acceptance table (click here to view) and in some cases subject to Harbour Master approval.