Crucial Portsmouth International Port berthing contract awarded to Portico to facilitate expansion plans

The five-year-term has been signed with Portico with the aim of supporting vessel operations. Portico’s operations director Richard Lewis said the deal will provide high-skilled staff to make sure vessels can access the port safely and efficiently.

He added: “We’re looking forward to providing services for the port so they can continue with their ambitious plans to expand. We have a team of experienced stevedores available to support with vessels arrivals and departures, this will be supplemented by additional casual workers when necessary to suit the flexible nature of the work. This is great start for our new division Portico Port Services and showcases the range of expertise we have.”

Portico’s staff will support the port’s in-house moorings and berthing team. The company has 70 full time specialist stevedores available 24/7, 365 days a year. Jobs they will carry out involve mooring and unmooring of vessels when they arrive and depart, making sure they are safe during operations.

Portsmouth International Port announced a record schedule for cruise ships earlier this year, with 94 luxury tourist vessels sailing into the harbour in 2025. They are also maintaining their ferry operations, as DFDS started a new route to Jersey last Friday (March 28) while Brittany/Condor Ferries remain in charge of the Guernsey route.

James Evans, the port’s head of operations said: “With the growth of business at the port we need to make sure we have support available to help the port operate as smoothly as possible. Working alongside our own expert teams, Portico staff will provide extra resilience when required.”

Portsmouth City Council announced a £38m investment package for Portico, the council-owned cargo handling business, in October last year. The move was criticised by some as not being of value for the taxpayer, with the total sum being described as “eye-watering”.