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Shipping in Gibraltar

Situated at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, adjacent to the Strait of Gibraltar (one of the world's busiest shipping lanes) and with over 7,000 ship calls each year, Gibraltar is home to a wealth of shipping expertise and to many specialist companies offering a comprehensive range of support services,

History

The Bay of Gibraltar's strategic position at the mouth of the Mediterranean has been used by merchant shipping for at least 3,000 years. According to Strabo Carteia, a Phoenician and Roman town, was founded around 940 BC and became the first trading settlement in the area. It was situated town at the head of the Bay of Gibraltar in Spain about halfway between the modern cities of Algeciras and Gibraltar.

The Moors established a settlement in Gibraltar and the site of today's Grand Casemates Square (La Barcina) was it's first port. This consisted of a tidal area and Galley House.

In 1618 the Spanish built the Old Mole now known as the North Mole at the north end of Gibraltar and after Gibraltar fell to an Anglo-Dutch fleet during the 1704 capture of Gibraltar the New Mole was constructed on the southwest end.

In modern times the Admiralty extended the new mole later renamed the South Mole, a Detached Mole was built and the Old Mole was also extended. Dry Docks were also built and now most notably the dockyard of Gibdock.

Bunkering

Gibraltar is one of the largest bunkering ports in the Mediterranean Sea, with 4.2 million tonnes of bunkers delivered in 2011. Around 10,350 vessels called at Gibraltar in 2011 and of these, 6,181 were supplied with bunkers. This has become the main activity within the Port of Gibraltar.