Plans progress for Northern Gateway

Teesport is already a gateway to the north of the UK for port traffic and is among its top three ports in terms of volume. Its geographical location and deepwater capabilities make it a vital trading link with both mainland European and global markets.

PD Ports first put forward plans to expand its container handling facilities through the construction of the Northern Gateway in 2005. In April 2007, the local council approval its land-based plans for the terminal. In October 2007 the plan won the prestigious Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport award in the category of Transport, Policy and Planning. There are now no objections to the water-based elements of the project, and a decision from the Department for Transport is expected very soon.

In December 2007, PD Ports’ senior managers visited Singapore and Malaysia to raise the profile of the Northern Gateway and to develop deep-sea container business from the Far East. In Kuala Lumpur they signed a deal with Malaysian-based freight forwarding company Infinity to act as the Port’s representative in the Southeast Asia market. Infinity runs local and long-distance road vehicles and intermodal trains to meet vessels from the region on their way to Europe and America.