Taw Torridge estuary and Bideford Harbour January 2009.
Lack of demand for Ball Clay in Finland and Spain has led to a continued decline
in shipping in the harbour. Ball clay usage being tied to the building trade,
prospects for a revival do not look good in the near future.
The search for alternative cargoes for the port is underway, and a successful
fact finding visit to Avonmouth was made in early January by the Harbour Master,
with the intention of securing the export of glass from Bideford to Ellesmere
Port for re cycling.
At present the South West’s waste glass is driven by lorry at 30 tonnes per load
all the way to the Liverpool area. Shipping to the same area in loads of 2000
tonnes by ship would drastically reduce lorry mileage.
Recresco who take much of the South Wests glass for recycling are keen to find a
greener alternative - even without making monetary savings. However early
calculations also promise monetary savings if the sea option through Bideford is
exercised.
The export of twenty thousand tonnes of glass per year is planned through the
port – this will include locally collected glass.
The planned launch of the huge super yacht hull from Babcocks Appledore Yard
went ahead successfully on Thursday afternoon of the 11th December. The complex
shaped hull of the vessel was towed to Babcock’s Plymouth yard by the tug Flying
Spindrift.
The Bideford Harbour Committee is due to meet on Thursday 12th February at 1600
hrs. at Riverbank House.
A highly successful clean up at East the Water of the river bed adjacent to
Clarence wharf was undertaken on Wednesday 29th October last in Co – operation
with the Environment Agency and other volunteers. Bideford’s 44 tonne new
Harbour crane traversed the Longbridge under sanction of Devon County Councils
bridges department, and was invaluable in removing scrap and rubbish from the
river bed collect by the Environment Agency and volunteers.
Major works on the Long Bridge at Bideford are continuing.
Captain Roger Hoad Pilot Harbour Master. January 19th 2009