Freight News, Sea


Ports are for ships, not for swimming, says ABP

[ May 22, 2026   //   ]

With warm weather on its way at last Associated British Ports (ABP) is urging people to take water safety seriously and stay out of the water at its facilities.

Across its five South Wales ports in Barry, Cardiff, Newport, Port Talbot and Swansea, ABP is reminding the public that ports are busy operational environments and can be extremely dangerous places to enter the water. It instead encourages them to choose lifeguarded beaches and other appropriate places to enjoy the water.

Even in calm conditions, port waters can contain strong currents, sudden drops, submerged objects, vessels and untreated water, all risks that can become life-threatening very quickly.

Divisional port manager for Wales and the South West, ABP, Ashley Curnow, said: “We want people to enjoy the summer safely, and our message is a simple one: ports are working industrial environments and can be very dangerous places to enter the water. Across South Wales, we are asking people to stay out of the water near port areas and to choose designated, lifeguarded locations instead, so that everyone can enjoy the coast as safely as possible.

“And if anyone does unexpectedly enter the water, it is vital to remember that cold-water shock and other hidden dangers can take effect very quickly.”

If someone ends up in the water, ABP says they should follow the RNLI’s Float to Live advice: resist the instinct to swim straight away and instead lean back, relax, and spread your arms and legs to help you stay afloat. This gives your breathing time to steady and helps the effects of cold-water shock to pass, giving you vital time to reassess the situation and act when it is safe to do so.

If you see someone in difficulty in the water, do not enter it yourself. Instead, immediately call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Tags: ,