View source for Port of Southampton

{{short description|Passenger and cargo port in Southampton, England}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox Port
| name =Port of Southampton
| image =File:PXL 20220828 112723994 (1).jpg
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| country =United Kingdom
| location =[[Southampton]], England
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| operated =[[Associated British Ports]]
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| berths =45 (20–49, 101–110, 200–207)
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| website = [http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk Port of Southampton]
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The '''Port of Southampton'''  is a passenger and cargo port in the central part of the south coast of [[England]]. The modern era in the [[history of the Port of Southampton]] began when the first dock was inaugurated in 1843. After the [[Port of Felixstowe]], Southampton is the second largest container terminal in UK, with a handled traffic of 1.5 million [[twenty-foot equivalent units]] (TEU).<ref name="meed/dp-world-acquires-southampton-port"/> It also handles cruise ships, roll-on roll-off, dry bulk, and liquid bulk (mainly crude oil).<ref name="meed/dp-world-acquires-southampton-port">{{cite news |title=DP World acquires Southampton port operator |url=https://www.meed.com/dp-world-acquires-southampton-port-operator/ |access-date=13 August 2023 |work=[[Middle East Economic Digest]] |date=11 March 2015 |language=en}}</ref> 

In 2015, [[DP World]] extended its operating license for DP World Southampton until 2047, following a deal with [[Associated British Ports]] (ABP).<ref name="meed/dp-world-acquires-southampton-port"/> DP World is the sole owner of DP World Southampton, having acquired ABP's 49 per cent stake, having been owned and operated by ABP since 1982.<ref name="meed/dp-world-acquires-southampton-port"/> 

It is the busiest cruise terminal and second largest [[container port]] in the UK. By volume of port traffic, Southampton is a Medium-Port City globally.<ref>{{Cite journal|doi=10.1080/03088839.2020.1802785|title=The Southampton system: A new universal standard approach for port-city classification|year=2021|last1=Roberts|first1=Toby|last2=Williams|first2=Ian|last3=Preston|first3=John|journal=Maritime Policy & Management|volume=48|issue=4|pages=530–542|s2cid=225502755|doi-access=free}}</ref>

The port is ten miles ({{convert|10|mi|abbr=out|disp=output only}}) inland, between the confluence of the rivers [[River Test|Test]] and [[River Itchen, Hampshire|Itchen]] and the head of the mile-wide [[drowned valley]] known as [[Southampton Water]]. The mouth of the inlet is protected from the effects of foul weather by the mass of the [[Isle of Wight]], which gives the port a sheltered location. Additional advantages include: a densely populated hinterland;  proximity to London, and good rail and road links to the rest of Britain which bypass the congestion of London.

The average tidal range is approximately {{convert|4|metres|abbr=off}}, with 17 hours per day of rising water thanks to the port's "double tides". These allow the largest container and cruise ships access to the port for up to 80 per cent of the time, according to the container terminal operator [[DP World]] Southampton.  This is a result of tidal flow through the [[English Channel]]: high tide at one end of the Channel ([[Dover]]) occurs at the same time as low tide at the other end ([[Land's End]]). Points near the centre have one high water as the tidal swell goes from west to east, another as it then goes from east to west. Neither is as high as the one at each end of the English Channel.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.southamptonweather.co.uk/doubletides.php | title = Southampton weather | access-date = 19 November 2010 }}</ref>

The principal berths are divided into three areas:
* The Old Docks at the junction of the Rivers Test and Itchen, consisting of berths 20–49
* The New Docks, known as the Western Docks,<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1409615|desc=Gates No. 8 and No. 10 to the Western Docks}}</ref> built by the [[Southern Railway (England)|Southern Railway]], consisting of Berths 101&ndash;110; and
* The Container Terminal, originally consisting of berths 201&ndash;207. This terminal was constructed entirely on reclaimed land, with berth 201 opening in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-1174790|website=[[Royal Museums Greenwich]]|title=A slightly distant bow view of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company passenger/cargo liner Chusan (1950) alongside Berth 108 in the Western Docks, Southampton|accessdate=21 July 2024}}</ref> However the berths at the container terminal have since been renamed. Berths 207 to 204 are now berths SCT 1 to 4 respectively, and the reconstructed berths 201/202 now SCT 5.

==History==
{{Main|History of the Port of Southampton}}

==Cruise shipping==
===Passenger terminals===
[[File:Ocean Terminal with Azura alongside.jpg|thumb|The Ocean Cruise Terminal at berth 46 with the [[P&O (company)|P&O]] cruise ship ''Azura'' alongside]]
There are five active [[passenger terminal (maritime)|passenger terminal]]s in the port of Southampton servicing passenger ships.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abparking.co.uk/directions |title=Directions to Southampton Port |access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref> 

* Queen Elizabeth II Terminal, berth 38/39 opened 1966, modernised 2003 and 2016.
* Mayflower Terminal, berth 106 opened 1960, modernised 2003 and 2015<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/southampton-reopens-mayflower-cruise-terminal-after-upgrade |title=Southampton reopens Mayflower Cruise Terminal after upgrade |last=Gibson |first=Rebecca |publisher=Tudor Rose Publishing |date=27 April 2015 |website=CruiseandFerry |access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref>
* City Terminal, berth 101 opened 2003, upgraded 2007
* Ocean Terminal, berth 46 opened 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gb.gleeds.com/projects/ocean-terminal/ |title=Ocean Terminal |website=Gleeds Projects |publisher=Gleeds |access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref>
* Horizon Cruise Terminal, berth 102, opened summer 2021<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/port-of-southampton-names-new-fifth-terminal-1 |title=Port of Southampton names new fifth terminal|last=Smith |first=Alex |publisher=Tudor Rose Publishing |date=6 May 2021 |website=CruiseandFerry |access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref>

In addition to the passenger terminals, Berth 104 (Fruit Terminal) is generally used for fruit transport but has been used for passenger ships during busy times.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fruit Terminal - Berth 104, Western Docks, Southampton|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3834851djMy|website=Geograph.org|access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref>

===Operators===
The first full-time cruise ship was ''Ceylon,'' a P&O liner converted in 1881.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cruiseshipodyssey.com/histslowst.htm | title = History of Cruising – A Slow Start 1850 – 1914 | access-date = 20 November 2010 | last = Timmerman | first = Paul | orig-year = 2003 | year = 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101014010515/http://www.cruiseshipodyssey.com/histslowst.htm | archive-date = 14 October 2010}}</ref> Until then, ship owners had occasionally used liners for off-season cruising. From 1881 the cruise industry grew slowly until the 1970s, when major shipping operators were badly affected by the rise in popularity of long-haul jet air travel. Faced with falling demand for their mail and passenger services, they turned their business to holiday cruises: voyages that usually end where they begin, providing short leisure visits to other ports on the way.
[[File:Oriana Tonga 1985.jpg|thumb|left|[[SS Oriana (1959)|SS ''Oriana'']]]]
At Southampton at the time, the ships affected included [[Cunard]]'s ''[[Queen Elizabeth 2]]'' and the [[P&O]] vessels [[SS Oriana (1959)|SS ''Oriana'']] and [[SS Canberra|SS ''Canberra'']]: all originally built as fast liners, they began to offer a growing variety of cruises. Through the 1990s cruising's growing popularity saw huge increases in ship size and numbers as well as terminal capacity, with Southampton becoming one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

Cruise ship sizes have risen substantially in recent years. The largest vessel using the Port of Southampton is [[P&O Cruises]] [[MS Arvia|Arvia]], with a length of {{cvt|345|m}}, a gross tonnage of 184,700 and a passenger capacity of 5,200.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arvia Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review |url=https://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/Arvia-2158 |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=CruiseMapper |language=en-EN}}</ref>  In 2005, the number of passengers using the port totalled 738,000, higher than it had been in any one year of the previous century. Since then it has increased year on year, and the figure for 2019 was 1.9 million passengers, representing approximately 520 calls by passenger ships. On average, each docking is worth £1.25 million to the local economy. The Port of Southampton is the busiest cruise turnaround port in Northern Europe.<ref>Figures from Doug Morrison ABP Port chairman, quoted in ''Southampton: Maritime City''  by Mike Roussel Derby Books Publishing 2010 p157 {{ISBN|9781859838075}}</ref>

[[File:Cruise ships.jpg|thumb|''Aurora'', ''AIDAprima'' and ''Navigator of the Seas'' at Southampton]]
Southampton is now the base of these cruise ships:
*[[P&O Cruises]] – {{MS|Arcadia|2004|2}}, ''[[MS Arvia|Arvia]],'' {{MV|Aurora|2000|2}}, {{MV|Britannia|2015|2}}, {{MS|Iona||2}}, {{MV|Ventura||2}} [[File:Queen Victoria-1.jpg|thumb|''Queen Victoria'' at Calshot, departing Southampton, June 2013.]]
*[[Celebrity Cruises]] – ''[[Celebrity Silhouette]]''
*[[Cunard Line|Cunard]] – {{MS|Queen Victoria||2}}, {{MS|Queen Elizabeth||2}}, {{MS|Queen Anne||2}}
*[[Princess Cruises]] – ''[[Royal Princess (2012)|Royal Princess]]'', ''[[Sky Princess (2019)|Sky Princess]]''
*[[Royal Caribbean International|Royal Caribbean]] – {{MS|Anthem of the Seas||2}}

and the ocean liner:
* [[Cunard Line|Cunard]] – ''[[Queen Mary 2]]'', the only vessel left with a scheduled transatlantic service to New York from Southampton.

In addition, Southampton is a regular port of call for ships of other cruise companies, including:

*[[AIDA Cruises|AIDA]] - German cruise line part of Carnival - fourteen ships
*[[Azamara Cruises]] - four ships
*[[Crystal Cruises]] – based in Los Angeles; three ships
*[[Costa Cruises]]– part of Carnival; Italian flag; eleven ships
*[[Disney Cruise Line]] - based in Florida; five ships
*[[Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines]] – four smaller ships
*[[MSC Cruises]] - eighteen ships; Italian based
*[[Norwegian Cruise Line]] - seventeen ships; headquarters in Miami.
*[[Oceania Cruises]] - six ships (part of NCL); headquarters in Miami.
*[[Regent Seven Seas Cruises]] - nine ships (part of NCL) headquarters in Miami.
*[[Saga Cruises]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises.aspx | title = Saga ocean cruises website (no Wiki article) | access-date = 20 November 2010}}</ref> – two ships ''[[Spirit of Adventure (2020)|Spirit of Adventure]]''  and ''[[Spirit of Discovery (2019)|Spirit of Discovery]]'', offering cruises for the over-50s
*[[Silversea Cruises]] – Monaco based; Italian flag owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line; six ships.
*[[TUI Cruises]] – based in Germany, six ships.

==Freight and cargo==

===Containers===
[[File:Edith Maersk Suez.jpg|thumb|left|''Edith Mærsk''-The twenty ships in the class were the world's largest container ships.]]The container terminal is operated by [[DP World]] Southampton. The container port has {{convert|210|acres|0|abbr=on}} of land – not counting the {{convert|375|acres|0|abbr=on}} in the older Western Docks – available for port operations. Loading and unloading operations can be performed simultaneously on four large deep-sea container ships, plus one smaller ship {{cvt|500|ft|order=flip}} in length.

This container terminal is Britain's second largest deep-sea terminal,<ref>{{cite journal|title=Electric dilemma|first=Paul|last=Clifton|journal=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]|date=27 November 2013|issue=736|pages=54–59|issn=0953-4563}}</ref> after that at [[Port of Felixstowe|Felixstowe]]. The railway line from Southampton has been upgraded to the relatively large W10 [[loading gauge]] on the route between the container port and the ABP terminal in [[Birmingham]], where it links with lines that have already received this treatment. This allows the railway line to handle the taller containers now in widespread use.<ref name="ABPMasterPlan">{{cite web|title=Port of Southampton Master Plan 2009–2030|url=http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/admin/content/files/PDF_Downloads/Master%20Plan/SMP.pdf|publisher=Associated British Ports|access-date=17 October 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Southampton docks at night 4 seconds.JPG|thumb|The container port at night]]
Permission was obtained from the [[Marine Management Organisation]] to extend the container terminal into berths 201 and 202. The quay was rebuilt in 2014 to accommodate {{cvt|400|m}} vessels.  The depth of water in the main channel was increased by dredging to {{cvt|63|ft|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.volkerstevin.co.uk/en/projects/detail/reconstruction-of-berths-201202-southampton|title=Reconstruction of Berths 201/202, Southampton|date=2014|website=[[VolkerWessels|VolkerStevin]]}}</ref> This enabled the berths to accommodate the largest container vessels in service. Work on the project was undertaken by VolkerStevin, part of the [[VolkerWessels]] group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reconstruction of Berths 201 and 202|url=http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Port_Information/Development_Projects/201_2_Berths/|work=Development Projects|publisher=Associated British Ports|access-date=17 October 2012}}</ref>

On 20 September 2013, it was announced that [[Channel Island Lines]] would continue the "lift-on lift-off" container service between Southampton and [[Jersey]] and would purchase the MV ''[[Huelin Dispatch]]'' from [[Associated British Ports]] who in turn had purchased her from the receiver of the Huelin-Renouf bankruptcy.<ref name=cil>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-24176612|title=New Channel Island company offers freight service|work=BBC News |date=20 September 2013}}</ref>

===Vehicles===
[[File:Car transporters.jpg|thumb|left|Car transporters berthed at Dock Head]]
The port has facilities for the import and export of vehicles. Seven [[multi-storey car park]] type storage facilities have been constructed, to provide {{convert|53|acres|0|abbr=on}} of above-ground storage (with another under construction as of 2019). Roll on – roll off vehicle transporters serve all parts of the world; car trains as well as car transporter lorries provide vehicle transport to and from the port within Britain. Southampton has been the UK's leading port for vehicle exports in recent years.<ref name=ABPMasterPlan/>

===Bulk cargos===
The terminal for bulk goods handles over a million tons annually. A facility processes waste glass into glass [[cullet]], suitable for making new glass bottles. Crushed rocks, gravel, sand, fertilisers, grains and scrap are also handled.<ref name=ABPMasterPlan/> A Rank Hovis flour mill formerly dealt with 70,000 tonnes of wheat each year but closed in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45704120|website=[[BBC News]]|date=1 October 2018|title=Hovis to cut 100 jobs in Southampton and High Wycombe}}</ref>

===Perishable foods===
There are {{Convert|156000|sqft|sqm}} of refrigerated storage facilities and a dedicated terminal for fresh fruits and vegetables. The port handles 80,000 tons (tonnes) of such produce, much of it from the [[Canary Isles]], each year.<ref name=ABPMasterPlan/>

===Oil and petroleum products===
[[File:Fawley Oil Refinery.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Fawley Refinery]]]]
The [[Fawley Refinery|Esso refinery]] at nearby [[Fawley, Hampshire|Fawley]] is the largest in the country, providing 20 per cent of the nation's capacity. Its mile-long marine terminal handles 2000 ship movements and 22 million tons (tonnes) of crude oil annually, making it the largest independently owned docks facility in Europe. A direct pipeline, completed in 1972, connects the refinery with the West London Terminal in [[Hounslow]], supplying aviation fuel for [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref name="FawleyOil1">{{cite web|url=http://www.exxonmobil.co.uk/UK-English/about_what_refining_fawley.aspx|title=Fawley refinery|publisher=[[ExxonMobil]]|access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref> A replacement pipeline was completed in November 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Southampton to London pipeline project |url=https://www.slpproject.co.uk |website=Southampton to London pipeline project |access-date=31 October 2021}}</ref>

The [[BP]] Oil Terminal at [[Hamble-le-Rice|Hamble]] provides storage and distribution facilities for crude oil and refined petroleum products. The crude oil arrives by pipeline, and leaves in sea tankers, destined for refineries; refined products reach the terminal by ship and pipeline and are then distributed to customers by road tanker, ship and pipeline.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.maritime.mottmac.com/projects/?mode=type&id=169727 | title = Hamble Jetty, UK | access-date = 21 November 2010 | year = 2010 | publisher = Mott MacDonald Group Limited | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714120917/http://www.maritime.mottmac.com/projects/?mode=type&id=169727 | archive-date = 14 July 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Local ferries==

===Cross-Solent ferries===
{{main|Red Funnel}}
[[File:Red Eagle (Red Funnel).jpg|thumb|left|''Red Eagle'', one of three car ferries that link Southampton and East Cowes]]
Red Funnel (''The Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Public Company Ltd'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00002404/filing-history|title=Full accounts made up to 31 December 2016|date=15 September 2017|access-date=24 August 2018}}</ref> provides two ferry services from the [[Town Quay]] area in Southampton to the [[Isle of Wight]]. The car ferry service to East Cowes, with a journey time of 50 minutes, is operated by the three 'Raptor' class vessels: {{MV|Red Falcon||2}}, {{MV|Red Eagle|1996|2}} and {{MV|Red Osprey||2}}. The Fast Passenger Ferry service runs to Cowes (which is called "West Cowes" by Red Funnel) in 22 minutes. It is provided by the ''Red Jet'' catamarans: [[Red Jet 4|4]], [[Red Jet 6|6]] and [[Red Jet 7|7]]. A fourth ferry in Red Funnel's fleet, {{MV|Red Kestrel||2}} is dedicated to freight traffic, entering service in May 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Red Kestrel Enters Service {{!}} Red Funnel |url=https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/en/corporate-info/media-pr/press-release-library/red-kestrel-enters/ |website=www.redfunnel.co.uk |access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref>

===Hythe ferry===
{{main|Hythe Pier, Railway and Ferry}}
There has been a passenger ferry from [[Town Quay]] to the village of [[Hythe, Hampshire|Hythe]], across Southampton Water, since the Middle Ages. This cuts out a lengthy journey by land across the mouth of the [[River Test]]. A 2000&nbsp;ft (610m) pier opened in 1881; a 2-foot (610 mm) gauge railway, the oldest pier railway in the world, has run along it since 1922.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/HythePier.html#anchor1008325 | title = Hythe Pier & Tramway | access-date = 21 November 2010 | last = Boyle | first = Ian | publisher = Simplon – The Passenger Ship Website}}</ref> [[White Horse Ferries Ltd|White Horse Ferries]] of Swindon, the former operator, was replaced in 2017 by the [[Blue Funnel Group]]. The crossing takes about 15 minutes.

==Port services==

===Towage===
[[File:Wyestorm.jpg|thumb|''Wyestorm'', Itchen Marine tug in Southampton Water]]
Four companies operate tugs in the port area. Solent Towage, based at Fawley, operates four fire-fighting tugs. Svitzer Marine operates a number of fire-fighting tugs based at Dock Head. [[Williams Shipping]] operates a small fleet of tugs, workboats and barges.
Itchen Marine, based on the Itchen River, operates a fleet of tugs, mooring launches and barges.

===Bunkering===
John H Whitaker operates a small fleet of tankers offering bunkering and other services to the cruise ships visiting the port.

==Boats and small ships==

===Marinas===
[[Marina]] facilities are available at Hythe Village Marina across Southampton Water to the south, and at several locations on the River Itchen.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.visitmyharbour.com/harbours/solent/southampton-marinas/expanded.asp | title = Harbour Information – Southampton Central inc. River Itchen | access-date = 21 November 2010 | publisher = visitMyHarbour.com }}</ref> Close to the Itchen Bridge there is the [[Ocean Village, Southampton|Ocean Village]] Marina to the south of the bridge and to the north there is Itchen Marine Towage's marina along with their tug fleet. Shamrock Quay and Saxon Wharf marinas lie on the western side of the river further upstream, while Kemps Quay marina is on the eastern side. Town Quay marina has a central location close to the Red Jet fast ferry berths. Hythe Village and Shamrock Quay have each been awarded "5 Gold Anchors" classifications from [[The Yacht Harbour Association]]. Ocean Village has 3 "Gold Anchors". The Eastern Docks is home to a variety of transport companies and marine service providers, including [[Williams Shipping]] who occupy 21 Berth. Towards the western end of the Docks area there are additional berthing and anchoring possibilities, at Marchwood Yacht Club and Eling Sailing Club.

===Harbour and local pleasure cruises===
[[Blue Funnel Group|Blue Funnel Cruises]] offer harbour cruises to view the ships in port, as well as other short day cruises in the Solent area, and "Party Night" type trips etc. The Barkham family began the operation in the 1930s; the current name was adopted in 1965. They run three vessels, ''Ocean Scene'', ''Ashleigh R'' and ''Jenny R'' from Ocean Village.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/BlueFunnelCruises.html | title = Blue Funnel Cruises – Acquired Vessels 1952–1973 | access-date = 21 November 2010 | publisher = Simplon – The Passenger Ship Website}}</ref>
[[File:PS Waverley at Southampton.jpg|thumb|left|Paddle steamer ''Waverley'' at Southampton]]
[[PS Waverley|PS ''Waverley'']], the last seagoing paddle-steamer in the world, runs a small number of slightly longer day cruises from Southampton each year. 
[[File:Sheildhall in Southampton.jpg|thumb|SS ''Shieldhall'' in Southampton Water]]
{{SS|Shieldhall}} is a heritage ship included in the [[National Historic Fleet]] (as is ''Waverley'') and based at Southampton. She is the largest seaworthy working steamship of her type in Britain and probably Europe. As a "Clyde sludge boat", she spent her working life dumping treated sewage, first from [[Glasgow]], later from Southampton. Restored now and managed by a charity, she operates an excursion programme, in addition to providing educational and other services.

===Boat show===
The first [[Southampton Boat Show|Southampton International Boat Show]] took place in 1969. It has been held annually ever since and has become the biggest water-based event of its type in Europe. It usually takes place over ten days in September. The venue is Mayflower Park, overspilling into land at a nearby hotel, and also onto a 1.25-mile (2km) network of temporary pontoons in the water. Around 350 of the boats are exhibited afloat at these pontoons, where potential customers have the opportunity to try them out. In total, 500 exhibitors show over 1000 boats in nearly {{convert|12|acres|0|abbr=on}} of exhibition space.

==Outer areas of the port==

===Southampton Water===

====Eastern shore====
South of Woolston, Southampton has a shingle beach within its boundaries at Weston Shore. The area is popular for sailing small dinghies; in the Solent area, over 60 dinghy sailing clubs cater for this pastime. This is in addition to the 70 plus yacht and sailing clubs and 40 marinas for bigger vessels.<ref name=ABPMasterPlan/>

Just beyond the Southampton boundary lies [[Netley]] village, famous for its well-preserved medieval Cistercian monastery, [[Netley Abbey]]. [[File:Netnave.jpg|left|thumb|Nave of Netley Abbey]] [[Royal Victoria Country Park]] on the shore is centred on a chapel which is all that survives of what, when completed in 1836, was the longest building in the world. This is the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, or [[Netley Hospital]], Britain's largest military hospital when in use. It treated 50,000 war wounded from WW I, 68,000 casualties of WW II, and many others before, between and since.

[[Hamble-le-Rice]] is the next village to the south. Today it is known to yachtsmen as "the heart of British yachting"; the village is set in a river estuary noted for its wildlife. There is a small oil terminal slightly further north on Southampton Water.  For much of the last century, however, Hamble was the village with three airfields,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.delscope.demon.co.uk/personal/hamble.htm#MAP | title = Map of the Hamble area showing aviation sites | access-date = 21 November 2010 | last = Haselden | first = Derek | year = 2010}}</ref> at the centre of an area with up to 26 aircraft manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.spitfireonline.co.uk/popup/history3.html | title = History of Aviation in the Solent Area | access-date = 21 November 2010 | publisher = Solent Sky website}}</ref> The Hamble Aerostructures factory remains busy today. It was a centre for air training from 1931 to 1984.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.localhistories.org/hamble.html | title = A short history of Hamble-le-rice Hampshire | access-date = 21 November 2010 | last = Lambert | first = Tim }}</ref> [[Sir Winston Churchill]] was one of the many thousands who took flying lessons here.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hamble.net/aviation.html | title = Aviation History | access-date = 21 November 2010 | work = Hamble interactive – Hamble and district Hampshire | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110518144811/http://www.hamble.net/aviation.html | archive-date = 18 May 2011}}</ref> To the south of the village, lies the site of an [[Iron Age]] promontory [[hillfort]], [[Hamble Common Camp]].

Across the river Hamble, and linked to it by a small ferry for passengers and pedal cyclists, lies [[Warsash]]. This is the last village before the border of the area controlled by ABP Southampton with that controlled by the [[Queen's Harbourmaster]] Portsmouth. The River Hamble itself, the third of the three rivers that formed Southampton Water, is controlled by its own harbour authority.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/files/sha%20limits.pdf|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110719003612/http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/files/sha%20limits.pdf|archivedate=19 July 2011|title= Statutory Harbour Authority Limits|website=Southampton VTS}}</ref>

Warsash is another village in which sailing plays an important role, and also has a history of shipbuilding.  In addition it is the home of the [[Warsash Maritime Academy|Maritime Academy]], which provides training for future Merchant Navy Officers. Its famous model ships, used for practising operation of large marine vessels [http://instring.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/warsash-maritime-academy-training-ships.jpg picture] were moved in May 2011 from their old base at Marchwood to a new one near Timsbury.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/4300439./ | title = Models switch from Marchwood to a new site at Timsbury | access-date = 21 November 2010 | last = Hamilton | first = Keith | date = 18 April 2009 | work = Southern Daily Echo}}</ref> The seven ton (tonne) models are powered, and have control systems which simulate the realistic handling of real ships. The new facility for them at Timsbury Lake near Romsey features models of berths, ship canal locks, narrow channels etc. for use in training the next generation of ships' officers.

====Western shore====
[[File:20050515 129 solent.jpg|thumb|Salt marsh near Lepe]]
Across the Solent from Warsash, the ABP Harbour limit is at Stone point, near [[Lepe Country Park]]. The [[Department of Transport]] has responsibility for the safety of navigation within the Western Solent beyond this limit, as it lies outside the jurisdiction of any of the harbour authorities.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.solentpedia.info/managing_our_coast/roles_and_responsibilities/ | title = Roles and Responsibilities – Central Government Departments and National Agencies | access-date = 21 November 2010 | year = 2010 | publisher = Solent Forum}}</ref> The foreshore from here to [[Calshot]], the first village to the north-east, is a lightly frequented and rather muddy beach.

At Calshot, with the long row of beach huts, the beach is shingle, and there is much of historical interest.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.google.com/search?q=history+of+Calshot&hl=en&safe=off | title = History of Calshot – Timeline | access-date = 21 November 2010}}</ref> [[Calshot Castle]], built by [[Henry VIII]] to govern the port approach stands on [[Calshot Spit]], a mile long (1.6&nbsp;km) shingle bank, and housed a military garrison until as late as 1956. The area was a base and centre of activity for military flying boats. The hangars along the spit for them now accommodate a large activities centre, with climbing walls, velodrome and dry ski slope. There are also stations and facilities for the lifeboat and coastguard services. Saxon landings in 495, [[Lawrence of Arabia]], the Schneider Trophy and the world's first port radio and radar station<ref name=ABPMasterPlan/> all also feature in the history of this tiny village. Beyond Calshot lies the oil-fired 1GW [[Fawley Power Station]]; beyond that is the huge [[Fawley, Hampshire#Fawley oil refinery and chemical works|Fawley Oil Refinery]], with its associated piers for tankers.

Away from the built up areas and industrial facilities, the western shore is dominated by salt marshes, with some reeds. The next village is Hythe, which is associated with Sir [[Christopher Cockerell]]. The father of the modern hovercraft lived here for a long time. His friend, Lawrence of Arabia, also lived here, but only for a short time. Hovercraft development and manufacture took place principally at Cowes and Woolston, but also at other locations in the Solent area. There is a museum devoted to them at [[Lee-on-Solent]] to the East.

The Hythe Village marina is situated to the north of the village. Between this marina and the [[Marchwood Military Port]], {{convert|800|acres|0|abbr=on}} of land extending from the shore to a line roughly 900 yards (1&nbsp;km) inland, is owned by ABP. It is held in reserve for, and likely eventually to be used for, further development of the container port.<ref name=ABPMasterPlan/> It adjoins part of the eastern boundary of the [[New Forest]] National Park, and port development proposals are always highly emotive and contentious locally.

===River Itchen===
{{main|River Itchen, Hampshire}}
The [[Itchen Bridge]] is a road bridge that charges tolls, connecting the docks area with Woolston. It spans  {{convert|2625|ft|0|abbr=on}} and the clearance for shipping is 23 metres above [[Chart datum|Highest Astronomical Tide]], {{convert|95|ft|0|abbr=on}} above [[chart datum]]. In 1977 it replaced a chain ferry known as the [[Woolston Floating Bridge|floating bridge]], which had been operating since 1838.

[[File:Itchen wharves.jpg|thumb|Itchen wharves and [[St Mary's Stadium]]]]
Storage warehouses once lined the banks of the lowest part of the river, but have been demolished. North of the bridge, on the western side, there are yards and wharves used by coastal vessels. These handle low-value, non-perishable and non-urgent bulk goods, including timber, scrap, metals, cement, sand and other quarry products. This trade accounts for 24 per cent by weight of internal goods transport in Britain. The imposing modern structure of [[St Mary's Stadium]] – the home of [[Southampton F.C.]] – stands close to the river here, just inland of the coasters' yards.

A shipbuilding firm, ''Day Summers & Co.'', was active between 1840 and 1929 in this area. Today this part of the river is occupied by the marinas, and also by many more small wharves, quays and shipyards, which provide homes for small to medium-sized boating-related businesses. The next two crossings are [[Northam Bridge]], a part of the city's main eastern approach route, linking Bitterne Manor to [[Northam, Hampshire|Northam]], and the railway bridge which carries the lines linking Southampton with Portsmouth and [[Brighton]].

[[File:Itchen from Cobden Bridge.jpg|thumb|View upstream from Cobden Bridge]]
Upstream of these, only a little commercial activity takes place on the river or its banks. Some residences having river frontages use them as moorings for small boats, and a number of private houseboats are berthed. One more large road bridge, [[Cobden Bridge]], connects [[St Denys]] and [[Bitterne Park]]. More houseboats are berthed to the north of it on the Western side, otherwise the riversides are occupied by parkland and the ''Portswood Sewage Treatment Works'' for much of the next stretch, as far as Woodmill Bridge. The tidal section of the river, for which the Port of Southampton is the navigation authority, ends here. The river Itchen upstream is noted as one of the world's premier chalk streams for [[fly fishing]].

===River Test===
{{main|River Test}}
Car storage compounds within the docks now extend close to the bridges carrying the main Southampton – Bournemouth railway line and the busy [[A35 road|A35]] dual carriageway. The tidal section of the river, and the area of the navigation authority of The Port of Southampton, end in Redbridge, at a point close to these transport structures. The name of the bridge here comes from the abundant reeds in the area – "Reedbridge"; it was never red in colour. The River Test is even more famous than the Itchen in the world of fly fishing.

[[File:Eling Tide Mill frm beside the mill pond.jpg|left|thumb|[[Eling Tide Mill]]]]
The village of [[Totton and Eling|Eling]], with its sailing club and moorings for small boats, faces the container terminal to the south-west. It features a Norman parish church, one of the two working [[Eling Tide Mill|tide mills]] left in Britain, and a mediæval toll bridge that still charges users.

Two miles ({{convert|2|mi|abbr=out|disp=output only}}) of undeveloped foreshore, mainly reeds, shingle and mud lie downstream from Eling, opposite the container port; then comes industrialised [[Marchwood]], facing the western docks. A high-efficiency gas-fired 840 MW power station opened here in early 2010, replacing an older facility. The prominent 360&nbsp;ft (110m) wide by 118&nbsp;ft (36m) high aluminium dome is an electricity-generating refuse incinerator known as [[Marchwood Incinerator]];<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.letsrecycle.com/do/ecco.py/view_item?listid=37&listcatid=217&listitemid=8964 | title = News Archive – Veolia opens flagship energy recovery facility | access-date = 21 November 2010 | date = 12 July 2007}}</ref> it too has recently replaced an outdated predecessor. There is also a sewage treatment works. Leaving the industrial estate comes Cracknore Hard. This area was home to Husband's Shipyard, famed for wooden military craft including minesweepers, and also yachts and fishing boats. The British Military Powerboat Team<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bmpt.org.uk/pnbpt/index.htm | title = The British Military Powerboat Team website | access-date = 21 November 2010}}</ref> more recently assembled an interesting collection of historic military powerboats in the old Husband sheds, but they have left and gone to Portsmouth. A marina and hotel are planned for this site. Beyond lies Marchwood Military Port.

==Other activities==
[[File:Control tower of Southampton docks.jpg|thumb|[[Vessel traffic service|VTS Control Centre]] Southampton Docks]]
[[File:King George V dry dock, Southampton - geograph.org.uk - 1214628.jpg|thumb|[[King George V dry dock]]]]

Other port-related activities include:
*Shipping agents<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.portsandships.com/index.php?categoryid=38&p2_articleid=37 | title = The work of Shipping Agents | access-date = 21 November 2010 | last = Roussel | first = Mike | date = April 2004 | work = PortsandShips.com}}</ref>
*Ships' chandlers<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.plimsoll.org/LifeOfAPort/AtWork/RunningShips/Chandlers.asp | title = Chandlers | access-date = 21 November 2010 | work = Port Cities Southampton | publisher = Southampton City Council| url-status = usurped |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023416/http://www.plimsoll.org/LifeOfAPort/AtWork/RunningShips/Chandlers.asp|archivedate=4 March 2016}}</ref>
*Harbourmaster<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.plimsoll.org/LifeOfAPort/AtWork/Organising/default.asp | title = Harbourmaster | access-date = 21 November 2010 | date = 2002–2005 | work = Port Cities| publisher = Southampton City Council| url-status = usurped |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20170923063850/http://www.plimsoll.org/LifeOfAPort/AtWork/Organising/default.asp|archivedate=23 September 2017}}</ref>
*[[HM Revenue & Customs]]
* [[UK Visas and Immigration]]
*Southampton Port health services<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.southampton.gov.uk/business/prthealth/ | title = Southampton Port Health Services | access-date = 21 November 2010 | year = 2009 | publisher = Southampton City Council 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101230164845/http://www.southampton.gov.uk/business/prthealth/ | archive-date = 30 December 2010}}</ref>
*Hampshire Constabulary Marine Support Unit<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/Specialist+Units/operations/marine/ | title = Marine Support Unit | access-date = 21 November 2010 | year = 2010 | publisher = Hampshire Constabulary | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721221858/http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/Specialist+Units/operations/marine/ | archive-date = 21 July 2011}}</ref>
*HM Coastguards Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Lee-on-Solent<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.portsandships.com/index.php?categoryid=46&p2_articleid=44 | title = HM Coastguards MRCC at Lee-on-Solent | access-date = 21 November 2010 | last = Roussel | first = Mike | date = 2003–2010 | work = PortsandShips.com}}</ref>
*[[Royal National Lifeboat Institution]] – The Calshot Lifeboat<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.portsandships.com/index.php?categoryid=46&p2_articleid=65 | title = The Calshot Lifeboat (RNLI) | access-date = 21 November 2010 | last = Roussel | first = Mike | date = 2003–2010 | work = PortsandShips.com}}</ref>
*The Southampton Seafarers Centre<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.centresforseafarers.org/southampton/index.htm | title = Southampton Seafarers Centre website | access-date = 21 November 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110724043446/http://www.centresforseafarers.org/southampton/index.htm | archive-date = 24 July 2011}}</ref>
*Pilots<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.plimsoll.org/LifeOfAPort/AtWork/RunningShips/Pilots.asp | title = Pilots and pilotage | access-date = 21 November 2010 | last = Roussel | first = Mike | date = 2003–2010 | work = Port Cities| publisher = Southampton City Council| url-status = usurped |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175803/http://www.plimsoll.org/LifeOfAPort/AtWork/RunningShips/Pilots.asp|archivedate=3 March 2016}}</ref>
*The VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) Centre Control Room<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.portsandships.com/index.php?categoryid=31&p2_articleid=19 | title = The Responsibility of the VTS Officer | access-date = 21 November 2010 | last = Roussel | first = Mike | date = 2003–2010 | work = PortsandShips.com | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715105514/http://www.portsandships.com/index.php?categoryid=31&p2_articleid=19 | archive-date = 15 July 2011}}</ref>
*Dredging<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.boskalis.co.uk/about_history.htm | title = Westminster Dredging Company website | access-date = 21 November 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20100224091033/http://www.boskalis.co.uk/about_history.htm | archive-date = 24 February 2010}}</ref>
*Fuel supplies<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bunkerindex.com/directory/port.php?port_id=688 | title = Bunker Suppliers in Southampton | access-date = 21 November 2010}}</ref>
*[[Millbrook railway station (Hampshire)|Freightliner Rail]]
*PT Contractors Ltd. – (resident building and civil engineering contractors)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ptcontractors.co.uk/ | title = P T Contractors Limited website | access-date = 21 November 2010}}</ref>
*Headquarters – [[Marine Accident Investigation Branch]] of the [[Department for Transport]]
*Headquarters – [[Maritime & Coastguard Agency]]
*H. J. Baker Sulphur Forming Plant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hjbaker.com/logistics/operations.html|title=H.J. Baker – Operations|website=H.J. Baker|accessdate=2 August 2024}}</ref>

==References==
 {{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Port of Southampton}}

{{UK Docks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Port of Southampton}}
[[Category:Port of Southampton| ]]
[[Category:Competent harbour authorities|Southampton]]
[[Category:Container terminals]]
[[Category:Cruise seaports]]