2025 Annual Review
Welcome from the Chief Executive
We are very pleased to be sharing the positive progress that has been made by the Shoreham Port team in 2025, which marks our 265th year as a Trust Port.
Our purpose remains to ‘improve our Trust Port for everyone’, in a way that is sustainable and aligned with our values as trusted custodians for future generations.
This review shares the difference we made in 2025, our 265th year as a Trust Port. Our purpose remains to ‘improve our Trust Port for everyone’, in a way that is sustainable and aligned with our values as trusted custodians for future generations.
We are very proud of our team's achievements during the year; we achieved zero reportable colleague accidents, a fifth year of record-breaking revenue growth, continued to reduce our direct carbon emissions and were recognised through the prestigious European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) award for exceptional commitment to community engagement and social responsibility.
Our outlook for the next twelve months is cautious, linked to ongoing economic instability. Sustained diversification efforts continue to provide resilience against the construction sector linked challenges to our core business. We remain confident that our strong customer and supplier relationships, combined with our outstanding team of colleagues, places us in a positive position to maximise opportunities when they arise.
Our values will continue to provide guidance and are at the core of all that we do.
We would like to thank all colleagues once again for their hard work and our stakeholders for their ongoing engagement during another year of rapid progress at Shoreham Port.
As a Trust Port, our continued success is linked to how we engage, and importantly, listen to a wide range of valued stakeholders. Please continue to get in touch with your views and suggestions by contacting us, attending events or via social media channels.
Improving our Trust Port for everyone
- All home safe and well daily
- Economic impact will increase through maximising cargo, fishing, leisure, and specialist project capacity
- Enhancing profitability will enable ongoing investments in people, infrastructure, and new services
- Cargo volume will grow through collaborative partnerships and efficient discharge, storage, and logistics services
- Property development and acquisition will enable expansion of our thriving business community
- We will encourage engagement from all stakeholders across communities, education, and charities
- Our values will guide us to be an inclusive, modern, and diverse employer
- We will achieve Net Zero (Scope 1 & 2) by 2035 while being a catalyst for decarbonisation across our ecosystem (Scope 3)
Who we are and who we want to work with
We work together internally and across our Port community
The energy we bring and what we expect from each other
We are accountable for our actions – now and to future generations
We act with integrity and ethics, demonstrating equality at all times
We actively listen to our wide range of community stakeholders
Our approach to competition, costs and new opportunities
We will consider our impact, act sustainably and leave the Port better than we found it
Shoreham Port’s Master Plan continues to be led by the commitment to get everyone home safe and well daily. During 2025 our safety management within Operations has been recognised through achieving certification to ISO 45001.
This year’s performance reflects a deep-rooted commitment to protecting the health and safety of our colleagues through clear, effective processes, forward thinking collaboration and providing pipelines for safety professionals in the maritime sector.
Industry recognition
The Port’s safety strategy yielded three significant milestones this year, marking a shift toward a continually improving and resilient safety culture.
The Port maintained an exemplary safety record with zero RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) reportable incidents throughout 2025. In a high-risk industrial environment involving heavy machinery, HGV logistics, and timber handling, this achievement is a testament to the vigilance of the entire workforce and the efficacy of current risk-mitigation strategies.
In a landmark move for our operational activities, Shoreham Port officially achieved ISO 45001 certification. This internationally recognised standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems serves as a global ‘stamp of approval’. It demonstrates that the Port’s Health and Safety frameworks are not merely internal preferences but meet rigorous, audited benchmarks for continual improvement and risk management.
Strengthening team capability
The Port has invested in its internal expertise. A primary success was the Port’s Health and Safety Advisor achieving their NEBOSH General Certificate, further enhancing the Port's advisory capacity under the leadership of the Chartered Head of Health and Safety.
Additionally, the team has laid the groundwork for the future by putting plans in place to introduce a Health and Safety Apprentice role, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of safety professionals within the local maritime sector.
2025 Highlight: Research and innovation
A standout highlight for the year was the Port’s collaborative research project with the University of Bath. Working alongside an acclaimed professor, Shoreham Port participated in critical research regarding risk perception and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) usage across different age groups.
This partnership allowed the Port to move beyond traditional safety training by looking at the psychology of risk—understanding why different demographics interact with safety equipment and hazards in varying ways. This data-driven approach has provided invaluable insights that will shape how the Port communicates safety protocols to its diverse workforce, from experienced colleagues to new apprentices.
Throughout 2025, our commercial teams demonstrated exceptional resilience and adaptability. We placed a strong focus on building and maintaining meaningful customer relationships across all sectors the port operates within, developing new business opportunities, and working closely with our longstanding partners to navigate another challenging economic period.
This collaborative approach enabled us to maximise opportunities across cargo, fishing, leisure, and project operations. Combined with our other activities across the port estate this helped us deliver record turnover for the fifth consecutive year - reaching £22.1 million, an 8.2% increase on 2024.
2025 saw strong tonnage handled on the spot cargo market with new and returning customers joining us at Shoreham. The experienced handling and efficient turnaround of cargoes by our Operations team enabled many spot cargoes to be handled at short notice whilst our customers reacted to changing markets and demand, resulting in strong tonnage throughout the year
Fishersgate Marina
Fishersgate Marina officially reopened on 30 January after a major refurbishment funded by a £1.2m UK Seafood Fund grant, delivered through the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The project doubled berth capacity and expanded quay space by 170%, enabling significantly improved facilities for inshore fishers.
Shoreham Port is committed to full compliance with the Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code, meeting the requirements in all Port functions. We are proud to have received praise and recognition for continued development and commitment to our safety protocols from our auditors.
Engineering projects
Over the past year, we delivered key engineering projects to support the Port’s long-term resilience and performance. This included re-lining the Pump House delivery tubes to maintain reliable canal levels, commencing refurbishment of the alternate Prince Philip Lock gates to safeguard our main entrance, and commissioning our first new material handler in 12 years.
Mantsinen 140M Hybrilift crane
This year, we made a major investment in the purchase of a brand new Mantsinen 140M Hybrilift crane, marking a significant step forward in our operational efficiency and environmental performance. This substantial investment reflects our continued commitment to providing first-class services, using only the best equipment and resources to handle our customers’ cargo. The new Mantsinen crane will operate on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), reducing noise and improving fuel efficiency.
Property estate
In 2025, our team continued to build a vibrant, connected business community across the estate, nurturing thriving tenant relationships spanning a wide range of sectors. We were particularly proud that Maritime House, our serviced office space, was named Winner of the Best Customer Service Award at the 2025 Brighton and Hove Business Awards - recognition that reflects the dedication of our team and the diverse, dynamic mix of businesses that make up such an important part of the Port's commercial portfolio.
Our estate remains a lively commercial hub, encompassing everything from serviced offices to light-industrial units and larger open-plan workspaces, making it an attractive base for businesses at every stage of growth. With a friendly, proactive team on hand to support tenants and foster a genuine sense of community, the Port continues to offer a welcoming, high-quality environment for organisations of all sizes.
Statement of Financial Position For the Year Ended 31 December 2025
| Statement of Financial Position | 2025 (£000s) | 2024 (£000s) |
| Goodwill | 59 | 68 |
| Fixed Assets | 50,478 | 49,366 |
| Investment Properties | 32,906 | 31,246 |
| Current Assets | 6,621 | 5,923 |
| Creditors: Due Within 1 Year | (5,806) | (5,488) |
| Total Assets Less Current Liabilities | 84,257 | 81,114 |
| Creditors: Due After More Than 1 Year | (21,445) | (20,000) |
| Provisions for Liabilities | (5,858) | (5,163) |
| Defined Benefit Pension (Liability)/Surplus | (0) | (0) |
| Net Assets | 56,953 | 55,951 |
| Reserves | 56,953 | 55,951 |
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income For the Year Ended 31 December 2025
| Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income | 2025 (£000s) | 2024 (£000s) |
| Turnover | 22,146 | 20,517 |
| Cost of Sales | (11,534) | (10,871) |
| Gross Profit | 10,613 | 9,646 |
| Administrative Expenses | (8,680) | (8,169) |
| Other Operating Income | 1 | 1 |
| Operating Profit/(Loss) | 1,934 | 1,478 |
| Interest Receivable and Similar Income | 20 | 0.4 |
| Interest Payable and Similar Charges | (1,253) | (1,358) |
| Fair Value (loss)/gain on Investment Properties | 1,476 | (282) |
| Profit/(Loss) Before Taxation | 2,178 | (161) |
| Taxation | (819) | (195) |
| Profit/(Loss) for the Financial Year | 1,359 | (356) |
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow For the Year Ended 31 December 2025
| Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow | 2025 (£000s) | 2024 (£000s) |
| Cash Generated from Operations | 2,585 | 3,717 |
| Interest Paid | (1,253) | (1,343) |
| Income Taxes Paid | - | (318) |
| Net Cash Flow from Operating Activities | 1,333 | 2,056 |
| Net Cash Generated Used in Investing Activities | (3,003) | (3,749) |
| Net Cash Generated (Used In)/Generated From Financing Activities | - | - |
| Net (Decrease)/Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents | (54) | (1,693) |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year | 1,255 | 2,948 |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year | 1,201 | 1,255 |
Through our Open Doors value, we actively listen to a wide range of community stakeholders, building meaningful relationships and creating positive local impact. We played a thriving role in our community throughout the year, supporting local causes with £39,900 in direct donations and £89,380 in kind contributions as well as engaging through strategic partnerships, educational activities and multiple stakeholder events.
Community engagement & education
In 2025, we delivered a series of talks and tours for schools, colleges, universities, and members of the public, providing opportunities for the community to engage with what is happening at the Port. A particular focus last year was on young people and we invested in showcasing the wide-ranging careers offered by the maritime sector. As a Trust Port, we are committed to finding new ways to engage future generations and look forward to the possibilities in 2026.
Across all our social media platforms, we saw a collective 144% increase in followers, showing that more people are choosing to stay connected with us and the work we do.
We also have colleagues continuing to mentor Year 10 girls at Shoreham Academy through The Girls’ Network, helping them explore future career opportunities.
Community projects & partnerships
In collaboration with the Friends of Southwick Station Community Garden, we were awarded a National Lottery Community Fund grant in December.
Funding will support installation of an accessible path, creation of a pond, additional planters for local charities to grow produce, and a larger seating area for community use.
Health & wellbeing initiatives
During Dementia Action Week in May, we hosted another Dementia Awareness Workshop with the Alzheimer’s Society at Port Kitchen. The free session helped attendees understand dementia symptoms, how to support people living with dementia, and where to access further support locally.
A few key highlights …
Historical talk
In March, we hosted a historical talk by maritime expert and author Brian Lavery about shipbuilding in Shoreham in the 1690s. This talk included subjects like the great value of Sussex timber for shipbuilding, the difficulties in getting ships in and out of the Port at the time, and the escape of King Charles II from Shoreham in 1651.
Annual Public Meeting
We discussed with stakeholders our key developments and performance, including new projects like Southwick Reef, decarbonisation, growing our tenant community, and supporting local charities. We valued all the questions that were asked, as the community's feedback plays an important role in our decisions.
Co-create session
In July, we took part in a unique design process with community engagement at its core with Artecology and City Arts Portsmouth for Year 5 pupils at Eastbrook Primary Academy. Children created clay miniature underwater habitats, which were added to our vertipools at Southwick Reef.
Galeón Andalucía
In September, we were thrilled to welcome the Galeón Andalucía to Shoreham Port. As a Trust Port, our role is to provide the setting for experiences such as these. We collaborated with the Galeón Andalucía’s management team, who organised and delivered the tours, and together we created a truly memorable moment for our community. It is estimated that 20,000 visitors were welcomed on board during her stay.
Looking ahead
We will continue strengthening relationships with our existing CSR partners as well as exploring new opportunities to collaborate with other local charities.
We also have our Public Meeting on the 9th June, where we look forward to engaging with the community.
In partnership with the organisation our People team have been working to embed our values authentically into the fabric of everyday working life, ensuring they remain as alive and relevant for long-serving colleagues as they are for those just joining us.
As in previous years, our colleague survey results from 2024 shaped our action plans in 2025, ensuring we maintained an environment where people feel connected to our purpose of ‘improving our Trust Port for everyone’. During the year data capture has transformed how we understand our talent pipeline. We now have visibility of where our candidates come from, and which of our values resonate with them from the very first stages of engagement. Through an enhanced performance development process, we can track how that connection deepens and evolves over time.
2025 was also a year where we sharpened our systems, strengthened our processes, and positioned ourselves to meet new legislative requirements
Maintaining an inclusive workplace
In 2025, we continued to investment in our inclusive culture through targeted initiatives that support underrepresented groups and address hidden challenges in the workplace. These included signing the Menopause Workplace Pledge, delivering menopause awareness training for managers, and providing LGBTQ+ inclusion training across the Port. To strengthen our approach to mental health, we increased the number of trained Mental Health First Aiders and formed a new partnership with Andy’s Man Club.
Apprenticeships
In September 2025, we welcomed our biggest ever apprentice intake. We were delighted to be able to offer apprentice opportunities across a range of teams including Finance, People, HGV, our Workshop, Engineering and a Marine Cadet all of whom are helping us build and develop our skills for the future.
From the Spring onwards, we were proud to share in the success of our first cohort of apprentices who are now passing their exams and taking the next steps in their careers with us.
In addition to academic success, Megan Blundell (Sustainability Data Technician Apprentice) received industry recognition for her presentation on a Safer Tomorrow at the Ports Skills & Safety Awards. The presentation focused on the future of ports, including how they become faster, smarter and safer through improvements in sustainability, technology and wellbeing.
Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service
In 2025, we were proud to see our Harbour Master, Julian Seaman, awarded the prestigious Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service, recognising his outstanding contribution to maritime safety, leadership, and community service over 43 years.
Julian has worked at the Port since 1999 and served as Harbour Master since 2009, where he has championed safety, innovation, and collaboration across the Port and within the wider community.
European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Awards
We are delighted to have received the 17th edition of the prestigious ESPO Award 2025, presented by the European Sea Ports Organisation in Brussels and recognised across Europe's maritime community as one of the sector's highest honours for social integration.
Our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, launched in 2020, has transformed how we work by embedding inclusive values into our culture, governance, and business planning in ways that are measurable, authentic, and lasting. Women now make up 50% of our Executive team and 55% of our Board, making Shoreham Port a national example of inclusive leadership.
Diversity in decision-making has also contributed to a 42% increase in revenue since 2021, demonstrating that inclusion and commercial success are deeply connected.
As the first UK port to achieve Women in Maritime Charter status and a founding member of the Diversity in Maritime Taskforce, we are proud to be setting a benchmark for equality that reaches far beyond our own harbour.
My time at university allowed me to gain skills in time management, research, and teamwork, which I now use daily in my apprenticeship, however, university did not prepare me for what actually happens in the workplace or how things are put into practice. My apprenticeship has afforded me the opportunity to build upon these essential skills and develop new skills, all whilst gaining invaluable experience from both colleagues and the workplace.
The UK hospitality sector continues to face significant headwinds, with rising product and wage costs compounding consumer caution in a climate of global economic uncertainty. As venues close around us, our commitment to Port Kitchen as a long-term community asset in Southwick positions it as a genuine destination - drawing visitors from the local area and beyond, as well as providing a welcoming engagement space for both the public and the business community.
We have now built a well-established reputation for championing local produce, operating with authentic sustainability at our core, and extending an inclusive welcome to all.
Port Kitchen entered its fourth year of trading in 2025 and delivered another year of growth - against a backdrop that demanded resilience.
Our team
Port Kitchen is led by a team of highly skilled front‑ and back‑of‑house managers, all driven by a shared passion to transform the way the hospitality industry cares for people and the planet. They’re supported by a dedicated team of friendly colleagues who greet every customer with a smile and prepare each meal with the utmost care.
In 2025 we served...
Sustainability sits at the heart of everything we do at Shoreham Port.
Since 2021 our turnover has grown 42%, during the same period we've reduced direct carbon emissions by 31%, demonstrating that growth also means reducing our environmental impact.
For the 12th consecutive year, we were recertified as an EcoPort, reaffirming our commitment to collaboration across the maritime sector and the standards of environmental stewardship within the organisation.
Sustainability in action
Construction of Southwick Reef began in October on the lowest astronomical tide of the year, with help from our friends at Mackleys to lower the 1 and 5.5 tonne Reef Cubes onto the beach, integrating these amongst existing sea defences. With works ongoing throughout Autumn and Winter to install vertipools and habitat panels along the breakwater arm, the instillation is set to be a great success for both societal engagement and biodiversity alike.
Our efforts to decarbonise continue, with our fleet of port-based vehicles now fully electric and continued electrification ongoing across operations spanning land and water, including the addition of our new EV workboat. The aptly named Electra enables our Marine Team to conduct daily canal patrols, attend visiting vessels, empty seabins and remove any litter from the water, all without creating emissions.
Working towards zero waste, we continue to make improvements across the Port, from recycling operational waste streams, through to fish net recycling and a switch to refillable cleaning products estate-wide.
Sustainability Week 2025
Our fifth annual Sustainability Week proved to be our biggest and best to date, with over 430 free tickets booked across 21 events, delivered in partnership with 10 fantastic organisations.
The week's events included port tours, taking place across both land and water, in addition to an array of talks, covering groundwater protection and the Port’s decarbonisation plans, through to the importance of sustainable forestry in facilitating coastal defences. The week brought together voices from across Sussex and beyond all supporting a collective effort to share knowledge and mitigate the impact of climate change.
Berth Zero
We continue to encourage our visiting fishing fleet to plug in. As we expand solar generation and battery storage, our aim is to bring down the cost of charging. Our growing visiting fleet gives us a key opportunity to make plugging in the normal operation, improving local air quality.
Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan
Following a year-long collaborative process, in January we launched our Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan, funded by Innovate UK, setting out our pathway to becoming a zero-carbon hub for trade and employment.
Developed with partners and stakeholders, the plan highlights how the Port can drive sustainable growth, with initiatives such as expanding renewable energy generation and Berth Zero supporting practical decarbonisation across the cluster.
Join us this June!!
You can explore more at Sustainability Week 2026 between 20th - 26th June 2026, where we’ll host free talks, workshops and tours focused on how ports, charities and businesses are pursuing a greener future.
We are excited to announce that the 2026 theme for sustainability week is People, Port & Planet: Working Together for a Greener Future. This reflects our commitment as a Trust Port to create positive change across the Port and wider Sussex region..
Visit our events page to book your tickets.
