Mersey Docks reports small profits but Dublin traffic up 25%

Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, Britain's number 2 port operator behind Associated British Ports has reported a small increase in underlying full year profit, in line with market expectations, and said although the economic climate remains uncertain it is well positioned to benefit from any upturn.

For the year to December 31 2003 the group - which operates out of Liverpool, the Medway ports of Sheerness and Chatham, Heysham, and Dublin - made a pre-tax profit before goodwill amortisation of £55.2m (€81.02m) compared to last year's £54.6m (€80.14m).