Port Nelson this weekend offers the rare opportunity to see the port up close and in action.

An Open Day is being held from 10 - 4pm on Sunday February 11th, with the public invited to come down and look at demonstrations and static displays from port users or join a bus tour around the port.

Marketing Manager Chris Williams says many Nelsonians can still remember the days when they could drive around the wharves and watch ships loading and unloading.

³In the modern shipping environment those days have gone,² he says. ³We are even required by international security regulations to ensure everyone over 18 going on the port tour busses has photo ID such as a driver¹s license. This is a great opportunity for people to see how the port works and to get an inside view of a key part of the Nelson region - the gateway for exports and this region¹s biggest community owned asset.²

Mr Williams said the last open day was held in 2003.

Courtesy buses will leave from the Tahunanui library and a car park at the Nelmac site in Vickerman Street throughout the day. There will be food stalls, tug demonstrations, displays form MAF, Enza, Coastguard, Talleys¹ Fisheries and a demonstration from the rescue helicopter at the Main Wharf around noon.

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