Cabinet notes the key findings and approves the Plymouth Ports Strategy.

Councillor Evans OBE (Leader of the Council) introduced the report and highlighted the following items:

a)    Plymouth employed more people in the marine sector than any other Local Authority in the country;

b)    Plymouth’s marine and defence sector employed more than 20,000 people which was 18% of the city’s workforce;

c)    Devonport Dockyard was the largest naval base in Western Europe and was the largest land user in the city, covering 650 hectares with 14 dry docks, 25 tidal berths and four miles of docks;

d)    There were 16 leisure and boat yards around Plymouth Sound including 1,400 Gold Anchor berths;

e)    12 cruise ships visited Plymouth every year with plans in place to double this within coming years;

f)     Plymouth ports were at the forefront marine technology and innovation including research organisations and companies at the cutting edge of work to develop autonomous vessels and floating offshore wind;

g)    Plymouth Sounds natural environment was an important part of the National Marine Park and was home to over 1,000 species and over 6,000 hectares were in an area of special scientific interest;

h)    Port operations underpinned the economy and life of the city, but were of regional and national significance;

i)     Although PCC didn’t play a direct role in port operations, it did play an important role in supporting the future development and growth of the ports as an advocate, a city leader and creating a supportive policy environment;

j)     There were six focus areas within the plan:

i) To invest in and develop maritime skills as a key enabler of future growth and to anchor the benefits of this growth into local communities;

ii) To preserve space for the ports through work to determine future requirements;

iii) To maintain Plymouth expertise in innovation and marine autonomy, clean propulsion and digital ocean technology;

iv) To foster communication and collaboration to promote Plymouth ports and to identify and drive forward new initiatives;

v) To support investment in infrastructure to ensure that the ports remained competitive;

vi) To recognise the role that the ports could play in preparing for Net Zero and the opportunity and benefits that this could deliver in productivity and job creation;

k)    If the plan were to deliver the objectives, there was a potential to create an additional 2,600 in the ports by 2030.

Richard Allen (Harbour Master, Cattewater Harbour Commissioners) added:

l)     There was a marine and dock side apprenticeship programme;

m)  Plymouth had ceased training sea fairing officers, however this had opened up other training and skills opportunities such as SeaRegs training;

n)    Plymouth was home to the Marine Apprenticeship Training and Turnchapel Wharf Operators supported further courses for maritime professionals;

o)    Plymouth had been a pillar of Britain’s naval defences, playing a decisive role in conflict from the Napoleonic Wars, World Wars, and the Falklands conflict and still worked to keep us safe today; 

p)    Plymouth was recognised as the main shipping hub in the Southwest, with more movements than any other port in the region; facilitating trade, supporting local business and providing thousands of well-paid jobs;

q)    The ports were at the forefront of marine innovation, reducing emissions in vessels and wharf plant and scoping for new infrastructure;

r)    The ports had plans to reach Net Zero;

s)     Projects completed and underway included:

i) Shore power;

ii) Solar panels;

iii) Carbon accounting benchmarking;

iv) The use of Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil in vessels;

v) The expansion of seaweed and kelp growth;

vi) Water flow equals electricity;

vii) Floating solar and;

viii) 24/7 water testing with an autonomous vessel;

t)     Cattewater Harbour have facilitated over 2 million tonnes of cargo imported and exported into Plymouth which had taken nearly 55,000 long-distance lorry journeys off the road.

Iain Mackelworth (Principal Surveyor Strategic Projects) added:

u)    The ports of Plymouth were the foundation of a thriving, complex, highly-evolved and dynamic ecosystem with a diverse range of facilities, businesses and skills;

v)    The strategy was advocating for evolution.

David Draffan (Service Director for Economic Development) added:

w)   The strategy was only possible due to PCC prioritising growth.

Cabinet agreed to note the key findings and approve the Plymouth Port Strategy.

(Councillors Coker and Penberthy left at the conclusion of this item)