SOUTHAMPTON'S big ship business is vital to the prosperity of other ports around the south, a planning inquiry has been told.

ABP is applying for permission to build a huge container terminal at Dibden Bay and is claiming that it is crucial not only to the future of Southampton, but also of the region and the nation.

When he was asked about the importance of coastal trade, with small ships cargo to other ports in the south, ABP planning consultant Martin Hendry told the inquiry in Southampton Docks about the port's key role.

The area needed a large port with large ships bringing in high volumes of containers so that the smaller vessels could convey the cargoes along the coast and generate business for the smaller ports.

"There is much greater potential for the smaller ships if the larger ones are there," he said, adding that if there were regular stacks of around 200 containers for the coasters to pick up, they would be coming to the port.

Earlier Friend of the Earth delegate Julie Astin had suggested that if cargo that was being brought in from around the globe was destined for the north of England, it should be delivered directly there and not to Southampton.

But, referring to Newcastle as a northern port, Mr Hendry said: "There is not sufficient cargo to generate these ships and bringing it direct to Newcastle just doesn't happen. The Tyne isn't deep enough and there isn't cargo to justify it."

He was alson quizzed by Mrs Astin about the wisdom of bringing cargo on container ships to Southampton, then sending it to a distribution depot in the Midlands and then redistributing it, with some coming back to the south.

Mr Hendry replied: "If someone knew a cheaper way of doing it, or something that didn't involve delays, obviously they would be doing it. But you can only operate in the way the world operates its trade and while it would be nice to take it to Newcastle, it simply can't happen because economics will not let it happen."

Mr Hendry also pointed out that he believed the most sustainable way of transporting cargo was by putting about 8000 containers on one big ship and sailing it slowly around the world.