Southampton Docks is celebrating a quarter of a century of playing a vital role in one of the UK economy's major sectors.

The city's docks is the centre for the nation's multi-million-pound vehicle import and export handling trade acting as a vital international gateway for this huge global business.

It was 25 years ago on September 12, 1976 that the first vehicle carrying vessel, belonging to HUAL, one of the port's longest established customers, made its inaugural call to Southampton. MS Torinita came alongside to discharge 2,200 Nissan cars, for then, Datsun UK.

From the success of this trial shipment, which marked the beginning of the port as a choice automotive hub for HUAL, a regular route between Japan and Southampton was established.

It was this HUAL service which helped initiate the rapid expansion of the trade through Southampton which has developed and grown to such a level that the docks are now the country's premier vehicle handling port.

These days HUAL serves more than 25 world wide destinations from Southampton, importing and exporting a whole variety of roll-on-roll-off cargo from this UK base.

Last year a total of around half a million vehicles passed over the city's quaysides at a selection of deep-sea berths in the docks.

Now the port is strengthening its grip on the trade with two new major projects which will lead to an increase in numbers this year. Work is underway in the city's Eastern Docks on the country's first dockside multi-deck car terminal while over at the Western Docks, at 203 berth, a new roll-on/roll-off linkspan has been completed.

Shipping lines concentrating on this 'trade' link Southampton with destinations that include the East, West and Gulf Coasts of America, Australasia, the Middle and Far East, South America and South Africa.

The port also has numerous short-sea routes with the Mediterranean, mainland Europe, Iberia and Ireland.

Major manufacturers using the docks include Renault, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Honda, General Motors, Toyota, Nissan, Peugeot and BMW.

While cars make up the bulk of the Ro-Ro traffic handled in Southampton the port also copes with large items such as tractors, buses, tanks, boats on trailers and even aircraft.

Specialist trains, which constantly operate in and out of the docks, can carry up to 180 vehicles, which, it has been estimated, saves about 10,000 truck journeys a year on the country's road network.

The vehicle sector represents a great deal more than just loading and discharging the vehicle carriers.

Increasingly added-value activities are taking place within the port at places such as the vehicle terminal in the Western Docks.

This is a 60,000 square foot centre offering pre-delivery inspection services and the installation of vehicle extras such sun-roofs and trim.