By the eighteenth century there were a number of wharves on the west shore of the River Usk; iron and coal were the principal outward traffic.

The considerable tidal range and muddy banks made the wharves inconvenient, and as trade grew, the Town Dock was opened in 1842.

This has traditionally been important for the Port of Newport and will continue to play a part in the cargo mix, albeit not as a regular form of operational activity.’[1] A 2004 published navigation guide, ‘Ireland and the West Coast of England’ refers to ‘Explosive Anchorage Areas’ and describes them as being 4 miles south-east from the port entrance and that 48 hours notice should be given to the port authorities[2] In May 2019 the United States Air Force (USAF Europe) moved half a million pounds of net explosives weight from the port to RAF Welford (Berkshire)[3][circular reference], unloaded from a chartered US ship Ocean Globe at night due to restrictions[4] and the ship's movements.

[5] The area at the head of the Newport Valleys, from Tredegar to Pontypool, was rich in minerals: coal and iron, and limestone.

The roads and other communication systems in the eighteenth century were poor, and the minerals were conveyed to a watercourse on the backs of pack animals, at considerable expense.

The watercourse closest at hand for the purpose was the River Usk at Newport, and it was to that point that the journey was made.

The difficulty and expense of the overland part of the journey resulted in the promotion of the Monmouthshire Canal Navigation.

in 1802, allowing it to make additional wharves on the banks of the River Usk to enable cargoes to be transferred to ships for export.

The canal was to be extended a mile and a quarter down the river from Llanarth Street, the original termination, to Pillgwenlly; the cost was said to be £100,000.

The Bristol Channel and its tributary watercourses have a large tidal range, and the wharves on the River Usk were subject to this inconvenience.

[10] Promoters in the town put forward a scheme to construct a floating dock, and this was authorised by an act of Parliament[which?]

This required a considerable expansion of the facilities, and it was determined to build new, larger docks at a location nearer the mouth of the Usk.

There was a South Lock which enabled larger vessels to enter direct from that end, nearer the Bristol Channel.

[11][6] It was already obvious that continued growth of business required further accommodation, and work was soon started on the South Dock Extension.

A huge extent of railway sidings was established at Newport to serve the docks; a considerable volume of loaded wagons were held awaiting the availability of a ship for onward transit.