Shoreham Port is set to receive a share of £20 million to transform its historic dry dock into a modern facility for local and visiting fleets.

The £500,000 in funding will go towards bringing the ageing dock back to life by improving capacity at the port to allow for better maintenance facilities and quayside space.

The project was among several to be granted funding from the government in a drive to modernise and improve infrastructure across the seafood sector.

Tom Willis, chief executive at Shoreham Port, said: “We are delighted our application to redevelop the dry dock at Shoreham Port has been successful.

“An essential facility for vessel owners, it is one of the few dry docks remaining in the South of England and is part of our proud history, serving users since the 1930s.

“When engaging with the fishing community, investment in improving dry dock capability is consistently highlighted as a priority.

“The redeveloped dock will offer excellent dry maintenance facilities for vessels up to 50m in length, with workshop access and quayside space.”

The project is due to begin in the near future and set to be completed by early next summer.

Winning projects set to receive a tranche of the £20 million fund also include the expansion of processing facilities for popular fish such as Scottish salmon and Cornish sardines.

Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said: “Fishing communities are an important part of the UK’s heritage and they make a valuable contribution to our economy, so we are backing them with funds to boost growth and opportunities across the industry.

“This funding will ensure seafood businesses throughout the supply chain are well-equipped to keep pace with increasing demand at home and abroad, boosting production and sustainability and building a resilient sector for the future.”

The UK has a thriving seafood sector with exports of salmon, one of the country’s most important exports, worth around £600 million annually and other abundant fish stocks in demand on the continent for their quality.