Barry Docks

The port of Barry is now a shadow of its former self.  Back in the 1960’s, 70’s and even 80’s Barry would have between 6 and 10 ships arriving each week, now (in 2011) we see about 3 or 4 ships a month.

The photograph show the docks as they are today – at the bottom, through the foliage you can make out the disused (flooded) dry dock, then above that, the walls of the Lady Windsor Lock – the main entrance into the docks.  This leads into the No 1 Dock (off to the left, out of the picture) this is no longer used commercially – there are a few berths on the North side used by visiting Naval or sailing ships. 
Above the Lady Windsor Lock there is the small No 3 Dock, this has a sea lock and a lock into the No 1 Dock – this entrance is used if the Lady Windsor Lock is closed for maintenance.  I haven’t seen any ships in this dock for a number of years.
Further up the picture is the No 2 Dock.  At the nearest (west) end is a timber berth, we see about 1 ship a month here discharging packaged timber.  On the right (south) side the only berth that sees regular traffic is the Vopak Terminal at the far end – here we see 3 or 4 chemical tankers a month usually a Stolt…… tanker or Eships Quest.  The other berths on that side only see occasional visits from vessels in temporary lay-up or tugs calling in for stores/fuel/water.  Finally, on the left (north) side at the far end is Sims Metals scrap metal berth, this seems to be an 'overflow' berth used, when their berth in Cardiff is full.  Here we see maybe 1 ship a month.
UPDATE:  The scrap metal berth closed in 2012