PD Ports Announces Plans to Develop Offshore Wind Hub

PD Ports has announced its intention to develop what will be one of the UK’s largest offshore wind manufacturing and installation hubs: the Teesport Offshore Gateway. 

Spread across 180 acres of land, the new wind hub will be home to a range of offshore manufacturers, assembly, marshalling and supply chain support services and will include a 1km long deep-water riverside quay. This will provide unrestricted access to the North Sea for the developers of both floating and fixed offshore wind projects. 

The wind hub will sit within the heart of PD Ports’ Teesport industrial port complex - which is currently the UK’s sixth-largest port - and will have strong road and rail links alongside a skilled local workforce. 

The site has already secured both planning consent and marine consent, subject to amendments, to extend an existing riverside berth to develop the 15.5m deep-water mooring, which would be large enough to accommodate all current and planned offshore installation vessels available globally. 

It is hoped that the creation of a new deep-water berth at Teesport will also future-proof the port, creating wider opportunities for additional bulk and container facilities, in support of PD Ports’ existing Teesport Container Terminal and the Tees Bulks Quay. 

Commenting on the proposed project, Frans Calje, chief executive officer of PD Ports, said: 

“One of Teesside’s great strengths is its ability to reinvent itself in the face of change. As the UK and the wider world turns its attention to large-scale renewable energy sources, here at PD Ports we see the opportunity - and the responsibility - to play our part by offering an offshore wind development site that is perfectly positioned to unlock the capability of our region, not only as a hub for trade and industry, but also to deliver the clean energy revolution.

Teesport and the River Tees has everything required to successfully operate what we believe will be one of the largest offshore wind manufacturing and assembly hubs on the east coast of the UK, offering unrivalled access to the North Sea. 

Although these proposals are at an early stage, we are confident that this development will support the UK Government’s ambitions for future offshore wind power generation. We also firmly believe that a facility such as this will lead to significant job creation - driving growth, employment and skills training opportunities in our coastal communities”.

A dedicated website for the proposed development has been created and can be viewed here.

Paint and coating consultancy for offshore wind

Offshore wind turbines exist in one of the harshest, most corrosion-prone environments in the world. Which is why paint and coatings are key - to protect asset integrity, prevent damage, and reduce downtime. 

If you require support with the investigation of coating failures on wind turbines, then Brookes Bell can help, providing expert opinion, expert reports, expert testimony and more. 

Explore Brookes Bell’s coating failure investigation services now

For more maritime industry insights, news and information, read the Brookes Bell News and Knowledge Hub…

From HMS Alarm to Offshore Wind: Charting the Future of Metallurgy | UK Government Announces £55m Investment in Floating Offshore Wind | Van Oord Takes Delivery of World’s Largest Wind Turbine Installation Vessel