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Minister takes North-East tour

[ July 4, 2013   //   ]

Shipping minister Stephen Hammond was treated to a tour of North-East ports in early July. He visited the Port of Tyne on 1 July to see first-hand the progress made and new developments taking shape. Cargo volumes have more than doubled since 2009 to 6.5m tonnes, the highest for 25 years. Chief executive officer, Andrew Moffat, Port of Tyne, updated the Minister on major development plans and outlined how the port was putting in place the funding to take advantage of significant growth opportunities.

Then, on 3 July, it was the turn of PD Ports-owned Teesport. As well as visiting the operations on the ground, Mr Hammond took a harbour launch trip to see the port from the River Tees.

PD Ports has invested almost £17m in infrastructure improvements at the port in the last 18 months, including a new terminal operating software system and new rubber-tyred gantry cranes with GPS-assisted technology.

PD Ports Group CEO David Robinson explained how the port had played a key role in attracting new businesses to the area and had helped local and regional economies grow.

Mr Hammond said: “The ports and the maritime sector are vital to the UK economy, and Teesport plays into this both nationally and regionally. On Monday I saw for myself the impact the port is making. This includes its distribution centres for two of our largest supermarkets and its container handling facilities.”

Stephen Hammond and David Robinson

 

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