Business, Feature, Freight News, Logistics, Sea

PD Ports lays the ground for growth

[ February 22, 2012   //   Chris ]

PD Ports has completed ground works for its programme to almost double its container handling capacity at Teesport. It involved the complete reconstruction of more than five hectares of the container terminal area with heavy duty paving to withstand the increased loads from the container stacks and the four new rubber tyre gantry cranes (RTGs).

PD Ports has invested over £16 million as part of an overall £29 million project to expand capacity from 235,000 to 450,000teu, which will make Teesport the second largest container port in the north of the UK.

Chief executive of PD Ports Group, David Robinson said that operator training on the new RTGs was completed ahead of schedule and the cranes are already in full service at the existing terminal. He added: “We are also well advanced in testing and implementing a new terminal operating system, which remains on schedule to be operational this summer.”

The RTG cranes represent the single biggest equipment investment at Teesport since the container terminal opened in 2003.

Teesport is also launching a fast gate service in April, to reduce waiting times for containers moved from ship to warehouse, to further improve service to its on-site customers including ASDA and Tesco.

PD Ports says that rising container volumes despite the global economic downturn is vindication of its portcentric concept, which involves establishing distribution centres and importing goods through ports closer to the final customer. Clipper Logistics Group recently announced plans to open a purpose built distribution centre within the port hinterland, due to open in autumn 2012.