The future of the port of Southampton will come under the microscope at a special forum to be held in the city's docks early next month.

Users, suppliers and operators in the port will have the opportunity to present their views on the development of one of the fastest growing maritime gateways in Europe at the event to be held in the Queen Elizabeth II passenger terminal in the Eastern Docks on February 5.

With the government response over the Dibden Bay planning enquiry due in the spring, the forum will come at a crucial time for Southampton.

In addition to container trades, the Port faces other challenges as it seeks to maintain its status as a leader in roll-on/roll-off and cruise passenger business.

After a period of impressive growth, the port needs to look at ways of maintaining its progress and how the supporting infrastructure will cope.

The symposium, which is free and open to all, has been entitled The Future of the Port of Southampton, and will include leading speakers from trades that use the docks, presentations from the port owners' perspective and an overview of the infrastructure.

Speakers will include Chris Bourne, European managing director, MOL (Europe) BV, Reidar Nilsen, senior vice president Strategic Planning and Finance Department, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Peter Shanks, European senior vice president of Carnival, owners of Cunard and P&O Cruises. There will also be presentations on bulk trades and port infrastructure.

Organised by the Wakeford Maritime Lectures Trust and Associated British Ports, the forum is being sponsored by Lloyds List and supported by the Waterfront Conference Company.

Captain James Chestnutt, chairman of the Wakeford Maritime Lectures Trust, said: "The forum will bring together leading players in the Port of Southampton to give their views on how they see the future.

"This will be an unprecedented opportunity for key figures to provide their input into how they see the Port developing."

The forum will start at 2pm on Thursday, February 5, and further information can be obtained by email from: conference@thewaterfront.co.uk