October 2019

Steve Williams, operations director at Portico, has issued the following statement as a message of reassurance to customers and stakeholders regarding the port’s Brexit preparations: I am pleased to update you that following a visit by the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP. The strategic importance of Portsmouth International Port and Portico was emphasised as a significant consideration by the government. I wanted to reassure you that Portsmouth is prepared and we are ready if there is a...

By Gareth Colwell

Children from Purbrook Junior School recently visited Portico and Portsmouth International Port. The Year 5 group and are studying Fairtrade as their theme this term, exploring what we export and import, and with whom we trade. They’ve also looked at where the UK’s food comes from, including from Fairtrade farms. As a vital trade hub where 70% of the UK’s bananas are imported, Portsmouth is an ideal location for them to see international trade in action. Above: Bananas being unloaded from the...

By Gareth Colwell

Representatives from Portico and Portsmouth International Port recently visited Antwerp, which is home to Europe’s second-largest seaport. The Port of Antwerp is the economic engine of the region, covering an area of 24,000 football pitches and employing 144,183 people directly and indirectly. It is also a municipal port, which means it is owned by the local municipal authority – the same ownership model as Portsmouth’s port. Because of this similarity, the team from Portsmouth were keen to observe the Port of Antwerp’s...

By Gareth Colwell