Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

about . . .

Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - Working the Ely Tidal Harbour . . .

The Transport Act of 1962 brought about the demise of the Penarth Dock and Basin and ownership of harbours within the UK was transferred to the newly established British Transport Dock Board. The coal tips at the harbour were still in use in March 1962 - see left.

Statistics published within their Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st December 1963 state that the petroleum wharf handled a total of 222,920 tons of inward cargo during 1962 and 222,177 tons in 1963. A note at the foot of the page states "The petroleum and shipping traffic shown above is handled at Penarth Harbour at leased premises outside the Dock, which is now closed." [200]

	Shell Mex & BP used the Ely Tidal Harbour oil terminal as well as other third party vessels on charter to the oil companies. The joint business arrangement between Shell and BP dates from the early 1930's and ended during the mid-1970's.

	The oil terminal was in service until changes in taxation for storage of oil based products brought about by the Oil and Pipelines Act of 1985 forced closure in September the same year, following which Avonmouth became the main distribution terminal for the region.

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