Harwich International Port was the first multi-purpose port in Europe to gain the quality accreditation BS5750/ISO9002 and was the recent winner of the Institute of Transport Managers' Port of the Year award. The Port also holds the British Safety Council's five-star award.

Harwich International Port is committed to high standards of training with a very flexible workforce and working hours to meet the needs of customers. National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ's) have been introduced to port staff in all aspects of port operations.

The Port has extensive experience of handling cargoes in a wide range of sectors, including project cargoes. There are regular ferry links to the Netherlands and Scandinavia with a container/general cargo service to North Africa and general cargo services to the Mediterranean.