The biggest ever load of grain to leave the Humber estuary has just set sail from the port of Immingham bound for the Far East.

MV Komatsushima Star was loaded with nearly 50,000t of feed wheat last week. A consignment organised by grain trader Gleadell, the shipment involved over 1750 lorry-loads turning at the deep-water docks to load the vessel on a 24-hour round-the-clock schedule.

The use of such large vessels allows traders to take advantage of demand in areas of the world that would otherwise be unreachable, according to the company.