RLC INSTITUTION VISIT TO MARCHWOOD MILITARY PORT AND THE PORT OF SOUTHHAMPTON ON WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2026
By kind invitation of Richard Parkinson, Port Director Associated British Ports (ABP’s) – Solent Gateway the RLC Institution visited Marchwood Military Port and the Port of Southampton on Wed 18 Feb 26. At Marchwood Richard gave us an overview of this established professional relationship between 17 Port & Maritime Regiment RLC and ABP’s which has increased resilience in the strategic base through this partnering arrangement. Tangible benefits of the relationship include closer cooperation at the Sea Mounting Centre, Marchwood, demonstrated with the first use of a landmark agreement granting Defence access to ABP’s national port network. Additional ABP investment of £98M into Marchwood, including 80 acres of new port facilities improvements, has enhanced both military and commercial resilience. This partnership not only strengthens national contingency planning and maritime logistics, but also sets a benchmark for future civil-military integration. We then had a tour of Marchwood Military Port to view operations first hand.
This followed with a visit to the Port of Southampton. Tom Dynes, General Manager ABP gave us a fascinating insight into Port Operations, before a tour of the Port. The scope and scale of operations at the Port was hard to comprehend, predominately import/export volume and cruise ship activity, and coordinated logistics on a massive scale.
After lunch we visited the Vessel Tracking Centre to observe how ABP coordinate vessel movement and prioritise ships unloading and loading . The radar operators work 24/7 to keep the shipping lanes free of congestion and their crews and passengers safe.
A big thank you to AB Ports for an excellent event.
