The Port of Workington
It was eight decades ago that the Port of Workington was dredged to allow 10,000 tonne vessels to bring iron ore for the town’s steel plant. Now a 10-year investment programme is well underway to revive the port and secure its future for another 80 years.
The Workington Harbour Board, backed by £15 million worth of funding from West Lakes Renaissance, Northwest Regional Development Agency, Cumbria County Council and Allerdale Borough Council, is leading the renaissance.
The short term focus is on developing closer relationships with existing commercial customers by extending the services traditionally provided by the port, such as boosting rail freight and promoting links with local employers and regeneration bodies. The Harbour Board is looking to forge new business links through the nuclear decommissioning process, offshore industries, renewable energy initiatives, waste management opportunities and short-sea coastal shipping.
This networking is being complemented by physical repair work, including the reconstruction of dock berths, refurbishment of dock gates and harbour cranes, the expansion of the port’s container park and new plant procurements.
The two elements are coming together to give a substantial boost to the regeneration effort in Workington, Allerdale, West Cumbria and the County as a whole.
Alllerdale Borough Council and West Lakes Renaissance are working to establish Workington as a major shopping destination by improving the town centre, attracting high-quality retailers and enhancing longer-term prosperity.
The Port will also play a central role in The Energy Coast Masterplan™ - a package of projects that will see West Cumbria transformed into a centre of excellence for nuclear and other innovative technologies.
It will also become a key sea gateway for both business and leisure use, playing an important role in the ongoing push to improve transport links across Cumbria.
The Vision for the Port of Workington is…
By 2010 the Port of Workington operating successfully as a strategic gateway into and out of West Cumbria and complementing the physical and economic regeneration of the sub-region and beyond.
At present the hard work to reinvigorate the port is already starting to pay off. In 2006 the Port recorded a profit for the first time in 14 years and picked up two major accolades. It was awarded ‘Leading Light’ status from the British Ports Association, recognising the work done to achieve best value for the communities served by the Port. It was also recognised as a shining example of how a port should be governed in a Department of Transport review of municipal ports.
