New figures show the state's most diverse sea port has well and truly pushed the global financial crisis aside, recording its busiest year on record.Port Kembla recorded 1001 ship visits last financial year, 139 more than the 2008-09 record.Trade volumes are also at an all-time high, according to Ports and Waterways Minister Paul McLeay, with 31.05 million tonnes recorded in 2009-10."This is up 17.7 per cent from the 26.4 million tonnes recorded in 2008 to 2009," he said.Wollongong MP Noreen Hay said the spike in trade was mainly due to an increase in car imports."This year we saw motor vehicle imports increase by 80 per cent from the previous year, with 3.92 million revenue tonnes passing through the port," she said.The catalyst for the record figures was the State Government's 2005 announcement of a $140 million plan to transform Port Kembla into Australia's leading car import centre.Port Kembla Port Corporation CEO Dom Figliomeni said the decision had led to the port's most recent development: a $630 million expansion of the outer harbour.Other major contributors to volumes were coal and coke, with about 14 million tonnes accounting for 46 per cent of the port's total trade. "That is 385,000 tonnes more than the previous year," Ms Hay said.Mr McLeay said a rail link between Maldon and Dombarton would help to build on the port's thriving trade volumes."If the Federal Government chooses to build that link it would really open up the opportunities for Port Kembla and more product to get to that market in south-western Sydney, more reliably, faster and on train," he said. "We have the infrastructure to grow and the ... skilled workforce to get us there."