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Port of Blyth.
Blyth is Northumberland's biggest port, handling
bulk cargos of aluminium ore, wind turbines, coal, recycling materials and other general
cargo.
A new cargo dock (Battleship Wharf ) with a rail link has been built on the site of
the old ship breakers yard. There
is a large marina in the South Harbour and a small fishing fleet still operates from the port.
There has been a harbour at Blyth since the 12th century
but it was in the 18th century that the port developed through the
export of coal. In fact Blyth was once Europe's largest exporter
of coal.
Ship building also flourished and Blyth was one of
the major shipbuilding yards in the North East of England. Many
ships were built at Blyth Shipyard including the Royal Navy's first
aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal - originally a merchant ship and converted for military use.
Along with shipbuilding came ship dismantling and
many ships made their final voyage to Hughes Bolkow shipbreakers
at North Blyth.
Coal was without doubt the biggest trade for Blyth
and it was loaded onto ships via massive wooden staithes on the north
and south sides of the river, all now dismantled, although the lower sections
remain. Coal was also loaded directly from Bates Colliery on the
south side of the River. This loading equipment is still in use and recycling material is now loaded to cargo ships here.
The Power Station on the north bank of the river once
dominated the view and was a landmark for miles around but this
has now gone and all that remains is a switching station.
Blyth has also become well known for the wind turbines
that were built along the East Pier. The two offshore turbines were
the largest of their type when built and now turbine sections are being imported via the South Harbour.
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Ships unloading at Battleship Wharf.
Container ships laid-up waiting for cargo.
Small boats moored at Bates Jetties.
Cargo ship waiting to be loaded at Bates Jetties.
Fishing boats moored in Blyth South
Harbour.
Blyth South Harbour.
Cargo ship reversing into in Blyth South Harbour.
Cargo ship moored in Blyth South Harbour.
Cargo ship leaving the River Blyth.
Cargo ship entering the River Blyth.
Ships unloading at Alcan Aluminium Ore Terminal.
Train approaching Alcan Ore Terminal from the smelter at Lynemouth
Ship being loaded at the roll-on
roll-off terminal at Wimbourne Quay.
View up the River Blyth.
View down the River Blyth with a
ship unloading at Alcan Aluminium Ore Terminal.
Yachts in the marina at Blyth South
Harbour.
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