1970 - 1990
In the 1970’s on the Hamworthy side, coal was imported for Poole Power Station and timber for J.T. Sydenham & Co. Ltd, However, at this time Poole Quay was becoming increasingly popular with tourists which caused problems for PHC as it was a busy working environment with many potential hazards for the casual observer. Undeterred, planning permission was given for a grain plant and silo. Trade continued to increase into the early 1970’s although only a small percentage was handled by dockers, as companies owned their own wharves and workforces. At Hamworthy, the New Quay had already been developed and in 1971 the Commissioners formulated a plan to move their business away from the Town Quay. In stages, land adjoining New Quay was reclaimed to accommodate a new Ro/Ro berth with eight acres of terminal. The linkspan had a bridge width of 7m and there was also a side loading ramp. In 1972 the late Peter Allsebrook, Vice-Chairman of PHC helped to establish a freight only Ro/Ro service from Poole to Cherbourg, this route is the shortest crossing on the Western Channel. The new company was called TRUCKLINE and Poole’s role as a ferry port was about to start. A new vessel ‘Poole Antelope’ inaugurated the service on the 29th June 1973 and was joined later in the year by a sister vessel. By the end of the year 2,324 freight units had been carried. In 1974 the company secured contracts to import up to 25,000 Citroen cars per year, plus 2,000 tractors over a two year period. In addition, 14,000 lorries and 2,000 trade cars were carried. By the following year, foreign trade amounted to over £200m, mainly due to Truckline.

The growth in driver-accompanied lorry traffic saw the introduction of chartered tonnage during 1975 and further growth resulted in these being superceded in 1978 by two identical new builds ‘Coutances’ and ‘Purbeck’. Each had a capacity of 33 freight units carried on two decks together with a basement deck for trade cars.

Unfortunately, one day in 1979 ‘Coutances’ lost all power whilst arriving at her berth and severely damaged both the linkspan and car-loading ramp. With this linkspan out of action, Poole Harbour Commissioners turned their attention to the construction of a second Ro/Ro berth and the terminal was subsequently extended to 44 acres and a 10m wide linkspan commissioned in 1984. The following year, Truckline was purchased by the French company, BRITTANY FERRIES.

Demand was such that ‘Coutances’ and ‘Purbeck’ were both lengthened by 16m to increase capacity to 46 units and tonnage to 3,099. Although Truckline’s original intention was to convey freight only, during 1986 Brittany Ferries commenced a seasonal passenger service with ‘Cornouailles’. Operating under the Truckline name, 48,300 passengers and 14,500 vehicles were carried in the first season. The popularity of the Truckline route grew to such a extent that the 1989 season was launched using ‘Corbiere’ later joined by ‘Tregastel’. These two Brittany Ferries’ vessels ran until the end of the 1991 summer season.

During 1989, more land was reclaimed to provide a total terminal area of 60 acres and a third Ro/Ro berth with a 10m wide linkspan was constructed.

In October 1986 the hydrofoil ‘Condor 7’ operated a service to Guernsey during the strike by crews of Sealink’s Channel Island vessels.

1990 two new freight links began - Vasco Line to Portugal and Torbay Seaways to the Channel Islands but both routes closed in 1989 and 1990 respectively.

Another turning point in the Port’s fortunes occurred in January 1989 when British Channel Island Ferries (BCIF) moved services from Portsmouth to Poole. As well as passenger vessels, the vessels carried freight, traffic and trade cars.