Port expansion plans scoop national award

Oct 30 2007 by Steve Race, Evening Gazette

THIS month, Middlesbrough based PD Ports was delighted to announce it had beaten off tough competition to win the prestigious Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport award in the category of Transport, Policy and Planning.

PD Ports was thrilled to accept the award, presented for the detailed planning process behind its proposal to build a deep sea container terminal at Teesport, known as The Northern Gateway.

The institute congratulated PD Ports on its comprehensive plan and professional approach to stakeholder engagement, which has gained wide community support.

David Robinson, chief executive officer of PD Ports, said: “This is a tremendous achievement, not only for the team at PD Ports but also for all of those who have been involved in and pledged their support for the project so far.

“This achievement further cements our drive and vision to develop a Northern port to serve Northern markets.”

Teesport’s location and deep water capability means it is a vital trading link with mainland European and Scandinavian countries in particular and it is envisaged that the Northern Gateway Container Terminal will open up additional opportunities for trade with the Far East and elsewhere.

The Northern Gateway project could bring more than 5,500 much needed jobs to the North-east, attracting retailers and others to develop import/distribution centres at Teesport.

The project would also help address the economic disparity between the North and South identified by the Northern Way at over £30bn and would be a major catalyst in regenerating the economy of North-east England.

Increasing the use of regional ports, especially those in the North, will ease the current over-reliance on South-east ports, which has led to severe congestion in the South and is holding back economic growth in the North.

Development of the Northern Gateway Container Terminal could remove more than 900,000 containers of further growth from these roads in the South. This would save over 150 “food miles” per container – a reduction of potentially over 70 million lorry miles per annum in the UK.

Since 2005, PD Ports has campaigned tirelessly to expand its container handling facilities at Teesport to benefit from the ever growing, global container market and is delighted to see The Northern Gateway project continuing to gather much interest.

“We have received overwhelming support from the local media, stakeholders, customers, MPs and residents of the Tees Valley and I would like to thank everyone who has played their part in the project so far,” concluded Mr Robinson.

A decision on the proposals is expected from the Department for Transport within the next three to four months.