A GOVERNMENT minister has praised the contribution made by Marchwood Military Port to the war in Iraq.

Defence procurement minister Lord Bach was visiting the port - now called the Sea Mounting Centre - to take a close look at one of its newest ships, the commercially-owned 120,000-tonne MV Hurst Point.

He said: "I just cannot exaggerate too much the importance of Marchwood and the crucial part it played.

"In fact, I feel sure that the port and the ships that were loaded here made a contribution to the speed with which a successful conclusion was reached. Marchwood seems very well run and is beautifully-situated for what we need."

The Hurst Point is just back from her third trip to the Gulf and loading for her fourth.

It was the 54th vessel-loading operation at Marchwood since the Gulf activity began and the cargo included aviation and vehicle fuel tankers, water tankers, ambulances, Royal Engineers' diggers and a wide range of lorries to carry equipment.