Port expects to become even busier as trade continues to expand

Consultation has begun over a masterplan mapping out the development of Immingham Dock over the next 20 years.

Demand for its biggest single import, coal, is expected to continue to rise while biomass is expected to leap from 114 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes in 2020.

According to forecasts, container traffic will also continue its rapid upward trajectory.

ABP's Port Director Grimsby and Immingham John Fitzgerald said: "Coal is very important to us at the moment and we still believe that while there will be inevitably closures of coal-fired power stations, as domestic production reduces further coal will be required."

Despite two recessions, in the past 30 years total traffic through Immingham has increased 157 per cent. Mr Fitzgerald said the low carbon economy represented a "huge opportunity" and the port, built to export coal, would still be intrinisically linked with the energy market, through imports of liquid natural gas and biomass and the development of offshore wind.

"The reality when you look at the balance of trade is that we have moved from a production-led manufacturing base to importing," said Mr Fitzgerald.