On May 12th, 1970 Her Majesty the Queen accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the British Transport Docks Board new deep water Tidal Harbour and the Basic Oxygen Plant at the Abbey steel works. Built at a cost of some ﾣ20m, the harbour was capable of handling ships of 100,000 tons and over. Its construction ensured the continuation of steel making at Port Talbot.