The last ever shipment of iron ore to feed Tata Steel UK’s Port Talbot Blast Furnaces has been unloaded at the site’s deep water harbour.
The cargo of 55,000 tonnes of iron ore pellets, imported from New Orleans USA, came in on the 200 metre-long CMB Van Dijk after 16 days at sea, which finished unloading late on Tuesday 30 July
With the closures of the site’s blast furnaces, there will be no longer be any requirement to ship millions of tonnes of raw materials across the world, with future electric arc furnace-based steelmaking using UK-sourced steel scrap instead.
Production Specialist Rachel Hammond, said: “It’s an emotional day for our employees and our key contractor partners.
“This harbour has been operational since 1970, (when it was opened by Queen Elizabeth on the same day as opening the Basic Oxygen Steelplant). In that time we’ve discharged about 400 million tonnes of raw materials.”
There will be no longer be any requirement to ship millions of tonnes of raw materials across the world, with future electric arc furnace-based steelmaking using UK-sourced steel scrap instead
The last iron ore shipment also saw the last use of the 808 stacker, which deposits the materials from the conveyor belts into the ore yards.
Once the last ship has left the harbour, a process of making the whole area safe, and decommissioning the harbour cranes and conveyors, will start.
Rachel added: “The team have been working incredibly hard on planning for that for months, and there’s a huge amount of work still in front of us.”
Works Manager Coke Sinter & Iron, Dean Cartwright added: “All those who have worked at the harbour, past and present, should feel immensely proud of the contribution they have made not only to the business, but to UK steelmaking and the whole of UK manufacturing.
“As we transition to a new operating footprint, our first priority is to keep our people safe, and that includes throughout all the decommissioning work and the new build programme.
“The end of importing raw materials through the harbour is another important moment in history that we should recognise, but we will now start to focus on the green steel future that will secure steelmaking in the region for generations to come.”
After more than 50 years of continuous operation, the very last shipment of raw materials will take place at the end of August with a shipment of Mitsubishi coke from Japan.
WATCH: Interview with production specialist Rachel Hammond here: Final iron ore shipment to Port Talbot steelworks - YouTube
More information about the history of the harbour is available here: Swansea and Port Talbot Docks Website (swanseadocks.co.uk)
Watch the British Movietone newsreel of Queen Elizabeth II opening the harbour and the steelplant on12 May 1970 here: ROYAL VISIT - PORT TALBOT - YouTube
About Tata Steel UK
- The Tata Steel Group has been named one of the most ethical companies in the world, and is among the top producing global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 million tonnes.
- Tata Steel in the UK has the ambition to produce net-zero steel by 2045 at the latest, and to have reduced 30% of its CO2 emissions by 2030.
- Tata Steel is the largest steelmaker in the UK with primary steelmaking at Port Talbot in South Wales supporting manufacturing and distribution operations at sites across Wales, England and Northern Ireland as well as Norway, Sweden, France and Germany. It also benefits from a network of international sales offices around the world.
- Tata Steel employs more than 8,000 people and has an annual crude steel capacity of 5 million tonnes, supplying high-quality steel products to demanding markets, including construction and infrastructure, automotive, packaging and engineering.
- Tata Steel Group is one of the world's most geographically-diversified steel producers, with operations and a commercial presence across the world.
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