A town port has welcomed 115 ships laden with 400,000 tonnes of cargo since the coronavirus lockdown began on March 23.

Ipswich Star: Rice being discharged from General Cargo Ship IJSSELDIJK at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 16 2020 Picture: STEPHEN WALLER/ABPRice being discharged from General Cargo Ship IJSSELDIJK at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 16 2020 Picture: STEPHEN WALLER/ABP (Image: © Stephen Waller)

The Port of Ipswich reached the milestone after a busy year in which vital commodities such as fertiliser and barley to rice and timber have continued to flow through the port, which is owned by Associated British Ports (ABP).

Most recently the port welcomed the MV Roseburg carrying more than 1,800 packs of timber from Riga for the shipping line Lacy & Middlemiss, and the MV Ijsseldijk, which delivered 4,000 tonnes of rice to Ipswich from Georgetown in Guyana for Clarksons.

MORE – Town security bouncer celebrates budding new careerABP short sea ports boss Andrew Harston said: “Throughout these testing times our Port in Ipswich has remained fully open for business and ready to help support our customers and the region’s economy.

“These latest vessels take us through the 400,000 tonnes threshold for cargo handled last over 12 weeks and this is a real testament to the service that Ipswich provides as a regional port. “I am grateful to our teams, as they have done a fantastic job and have shown that we are well equipped to minimise supply chain disruptions and keep goods flowing.”

Ipswich Star: Rice being discharged from General Cargo Ship IJSSELDIJK at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 16 Picture: STEPHEN WALLER/ABPRice being discharged from General Cargo Ship IJSSELDIJK at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 16 Picture: STEPHEN WALLER/ABP (Image: © Stephen Waller)

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Ipswich Star: Timber discharge from General Cargo Ship Roseburg at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 15, 2020 Picture: STEPHEN WALLER/ABPTimber discharge from General Cargo Ship Roseburg at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 15, 2020 Picture: STEPHEN WALLER/ABP (Image: © Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Rice being discharged from General Cargo Ship IJSSELDIJK at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 16, 2020 Picture: STEPHEN WALLER/ABPRice being discharged from General Cargo Ship IJSSELDIJK at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 16, 2020 Picture: STEPHEN WALLER/ABP (Image: © Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Timber discharge from General Cargo Ship Roseburg at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 15 PIcture: STEPHEN WALLER/ABPTimber discharge from General Cargo Ship Roseburg at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 15 PIcture: STEPHEN WALLER/ABP (Image: © Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Timber discharge from General Cargo Ship Roseburg at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 15 Picture: STEPHEN WALLERTimber discharge from General Cargo Ship Roseburg at ABP's Port of Ipswich, on June 15 Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: © Stephen Waller)