Foreword

Gibraltar has always found a way to commercial success by adapting to new circumstances. In the 1980s, the port reinvented itself as a major centre for shiprepair and maritime support services. Following the Córdoba Agreement in September 2006 between the Governments of the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Spain, Gibraltar has entered a new era of co-operation with other ports in the region. This has led to new business opportunities for maritime service providers in Gibraltar as well as offering new benefits for customers of our port.

As a result, the Port of Gibraltar is better placed than ever to benefit from its huge geographical advantages as a natural harbour, set in a large, sheltered, deepwater bay and commanding one of the world's busiest shipping routes.

One of my key responsibilities is to ensure that our port continues to provide a comprehensive range of quality services to the maritime sector. The Port of Gibraltar is truly a one-stop shop for maritime services. In addition to the supply of ship's fuel - bunkering - they include a complete range of shipping requirements, from charts and crew changes to drydocking, hull cleaning, repairs and underwater surveys, and from legal and medical services to ship's provisions and spare parts.

A key area for business for Gibraltar is the handling of cruise ships and their passengers. Some of the most prestigious vessels in the cruise industry are now regular callers. Our range of shore excursions and tourist attractions make Gibraltar a favourite port of call for cruises in the Mediterranean.

Bunkering is now the biggest activity in the Port of Gibraltar. The Government has placed great emphasis on ensuring that the port's reputation as an efficient, safe and effective bunkering centre is not only maintained but enhanced. In fact, our current Code of Practice requires local suppliers to meet a set of standards that are higher than the internationally accepted rules for bunkering. We also have a Government-appointed bunkering superintendent to oversee these standards.

Gibraltar's other key maritime services, such as our well respected Ship Register and our fast-track system for ship arrests, will be familiar to many in the shipping industry.
Like the Rock itself, our thriving business community provides a solid and stable background to the maritime-related services that are the main focus of this handbook.

The Government recognises the central role of shipping in our everyday business life and we will continue to put in place strategies that will help grow this sector.

Welcome to Gibraltar.

The Hon J.J. Holliday MP
Minister for Shipping and the Port