S P O NS O R E D CO NT E NT
Dockside – container ship Kristin Schepers is loaded at Teesport.
SET FAIR FOR
SUCCESS
PD Ports confident of a strong 2023
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lovemiddlesbrough magazine
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D Ports is one of the largest private employers in the Tees Valley and, as owner and operator of Teesport, a business of national significance. During 2022, as with the majority of other industries, the maritime sector was affected by the economic headwinds in the UK, as well as the ongoing impact of the war in Ukraine, Covid-19 pandemic and global supply chain disruption. Despite this, Teesport remains a vital piece of national infrastructure, handling 27m tonnes of cargo in 2021 as the sixth largest port by volume in the UK. In the past year, PD Ports was named Business of the Year at the prestigious Maritime UK Awards for demonstrating a real understanding of its target market while also showing impressive growth and sustainability across a number of factors, including job creation and national and international impact.
The port operator has continued to build on this success, receiving eight further industry awards in the time since, recognising achievements in areas including sustainability, safety, people development and innovation. Teesport is not, however, just a critical gateway for international trade, says CEO Frans Calje - it also has an essential role in supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions. “We have a responsibility to facilitate new renewable and green technologies,” said Frans, who was awarded an OBE in the late Queen’s last birthday honours for his services to international trade. “In May, we strengthened the River Tees’ position as a global leader in offshore wind by entering a new long-term deal with Seajacks, a world-leader in offshore solutions, to bring their UK marine base to the Tees Valley. And in November, we followed this by securing a deal with Green