A commercial port in Dorset that makes a multi-million-pound contribution to the local and national economies is celebrating its landmark 30th anniversary.
Portland Port opened in 1996 on the site of the area’s former Royal Naval Base, which closed the year before.
The keys were handed to John Langham, then chairman of new owners Portland Port Ltd, by naval base commander Tim Burne in a ceremony on 29 March 1996.
Today, the port – an independent business which employs 57 people – provides a wide range of marine-related services and is the location for a host of firms and enterprises.
Together they employ more than 300 people, the vast majority of whom live and work locally.
More than £120m has been invested in infrastructure and improvements – including a £26m deepwater berth in 2023 – over the past three decades.
The 30th anniversary milestone comes after another record-breaking year in 2025 for the port’s cruise business.
The port and its tenants contribute tens of millions of pounds to the local economy annually, including an estimated £10m from cruise calls.
Bill Reeves, Portland Port chief executive, said: “To reach thirty years in business is a tremendous achievement and great credit must go to all of those who have played their part in making the port the success it is today.
“An immense amount of hard work has gone on behind the scenes, and continues to go on, for the long-term growth of the business to generate important revenues for re-investment in the port’s infrastructure and estate.
“The result of such commitment is a multi-million-pound contribution to the local and national economies every year from the port’s own activities as well as the thriving community of businesses on its estate.
“Together we have placed Portland on the map, nationally and internationally, as a premier commercial port close to shipping lanes in the English Channel and which also continues to support the UK’s military and national security.
“We will continue to seize every opportunity to develop the port and grow its business in the future. Meanwhile, we look forward to celebrating our 30th anniversary this year, with more details to be released in due course.”
The port’s cruise business sailed into the record books last year with the highest number of cruise calls in a single year, with 64 ships, and visits in every month from January to December for the first time.
It has several long-standing employees – including those with 30, 25 and 20 years of service – and loyal businesses who have been based at the port since its launch.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships remain regular visitors and the port last year was the base for NATO’s Exercise Sea Breeze with the Royal Navy, US Sixth Fleet and Ukrainian forces.
The port operated for nearly 150 years as a Royal Naval base before a wave of Ministry of Defence closures in South Dorset in the 1990s, which also included the nearby Royal Naval Air Station, HMS Osprey, on what is now Osprey Quay.
Portland Harbour Authority took over as the statutory harbour authority in 1998, under the umbrella of the Portland Port Group.
The harbour has been revitalised since the navy’s departure and is now the location for a host of leisure and recreational activities.
In December of last year a feasibility study was announced by renewable energy developer Morwind for a proposed deep-water offshore wind facility at Portland Port. It is among potential opportunities to establish Portland as green energy hub.
Portland Port is owned by Langham Industries.
According to Invest in Dorset, the county’s marine sector employs 4,500 people and contributes £205 million to the local economy.
- When Portland Port threw open its berths in 1996, John Major was Prime Minister, England hosted the European football championships, the summer Olympics were held in Atlanta, Georgia, US, the Prince and Princess of Wales announced their divorce and Dolly the Sheep – the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult cell – was born.
Author: Victoria Merriman
Chamber secretary
