The largest ship to be seen in Milford Haven for almost 20 years arrived at the port earlier this week, berthing at the Murco jetty.

The 'Ocana', a very large crude carrier (VLCC), is the size of three football pitches laid end to end, measuring a massive 333-metres long with a beam of 60-metres.

She berthed on Monday, June 22, with her part-loaded cargo of crude oil from Angola. When fully loaded, 'Ocana' weighs in at over 300,000 DWT (deadweight tonnes), is the eighth largest vessel ever handled in the port, and the largest since 1991.

Ocana's huge dimensions are, however, dwarfed by the VLCC Sea Song, which called at Milford Haven in 1988. The largest ship ever seen on the Haven, Sea Song had a DWT of 357,000 tonnes, and although she had the same 60m beam, she was, at 362-metres, over 30-metres longer.

With oil reserves in the North Sea depleting, UK ports are likely to see increasing numbers of VLCC's in coming years, carrying cargoes from Russia, West Africa and the Middle East.

Jim Prest, who has worked on the Murco Jetty at the Milford Haven Refinery for more than 35 years, said: "This is the second largest tanker we have ever had dock at Milford Haven Refinery. During the '70s it was quite common to have a tanker of this size travelling up and down the Haven, it's been a pleasant reminder of the old times."

Milford Haven Port Authority harbourmaster Mark Andrews said the arrival of the 'Ocana' was a further reminder of the port's significant UK role.

"We are the biggest port in Wales, and the sixth largest port in the UK, and the size and number of ships we handle here every day make a massive and often unrecognised contribution to the way in which the country's economy works, delivering hundreds of raw materials and items which ultimately find their way into our everyday lives," he said.

"There's been a lot of focus recently on large LNG carriers arriving in Milford Haven, but the appearance of the 'Ocana' is a reminder that we have always handled large vessels throughout the port's history."

'Ocana' left the port three days later on Thursday, June 25.