The Port of Ipswich can be dated to c.625. The name Ipswich was originally Gippeswyc,[1] referring to the River Gyppes with a suffix derived from the Scandinavian term vik, which had evolved from meaning bay or inlet to mean landing-place, following the proliferation of merchants requiring places to unload their goods and conduct trade.[2] Since 1997 the port has been run by Associated British Ports.[3]