The Transport Minister made a visit to south Essex today for a tour of the UK's "fastest growing port".

The Port of Tilbury welcomed the Transport Minister Robert Courts to the port today for a briefing and tour of the port.

The minister was given an in-dock boat tour accompanied by the Port of Tilbury’s asset and site director, Paul Dale.

They were also joined by commercial director Peter Ward, Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price, council leader Rob Gledhill and deputy leader Mark Coxshall.

Mr Courts saw for himself the impacts of the significant investment across the port and the onsite activities.

He met company apprentices and was given a demonstration of the Port’s state-of-the-art simulator suite.

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Mr Courts stopped at the country's largest unaccompanied freight ferry terminal*, Tilbury2, a £250m investment spanning 160 acres, which was officially opened by the Prime Minister at the end of January.

The site is also home to new border infrastructure, the UK’s largest construction materials processing hub operated by Tarmac and Tesco’s domestic rail operations.

Mr Courts said: “Investment in the Port of Tilbury is investing in the local economy. With the new freight ferry terminal at Tilbury2 now in operation, more services can be added to the port, which will result in the creation of more jobs.

"We are committed to boosting global trade and supporting the port's growth will help to build and strengthen our economy.

“This is just one of the ways we're building back better – and we owe a big debt of gratitude to the hardworking team at the port who worked tirelessly during the pandemic, ensuring the movement of goods continued and who showed great resilience and dedication throughout.”

After hosting the ministerial visit, Mr Dale commented: “Built and delivered during the pandemic, Tilbury2 is a UK success story.

"Whether it’s food or medical supplies, industrial goods or construction materials, our new port with its first class rail terminals and barge loading jetty provides a suite of low carbon distribution options for our customers.

"Backed by further substantial shareholder investment, the Thames Freeport will be a catalyst to expand at pace to satisfy growing customer demand in this prime location, delivering high quality employment and contributing to the levelling up of south Essex.”