UK: Port of Tyne at Heart of the Action

The giants of the renewable industry are set to gather in Scotland this week – and the Port of Tyne will be at the heart of the action.

Renewable UK – the world’s largest conference and exhibition of its kind – will bring together 300 different organisations working in the generation and supply of new renewable fuels, including offshore wind and wood pellet. Both of these renewable fuels will play an important part in the further growth of the Port of Tyne and many other companies in the industry supply chain.

The Port of Tyne is already a world leader in handling wood pellet and has the most advanced facilities in Europe at its base in South Tyneside, North East England. With its neighbouring local councils, South Tyneside and North Tyneside, and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, it has assembled a major site for offshore wind turbine manufacturing, making up 39 hectares of the North East Enterprise Zone, and further sites for offshore manufacturing opportunities.

The site’s excellent geographical location, 96 nautical miles from Dogger Bank, is perfectly placed to become a centre for both manufacturing and servicing the new offshore wind farms planned for the North Sea, and to act as a hub for the attendant supply chain.

And it is this message that the Port, with North and South Tyneside Councils, is taking to the 5,000 strong audience at the exhibition in Glasgow.

 “The renewables sector is the focus of growth for the Port of Tyne and could be the key to bringing wider economic benefits to the whole of the North East region. We are building on our successes to date in renewable energies with a view to ensuring we have the infrastructure in place to meet the needs of potential new customers and investors. The location, connectivity, manufacturing skills base and immediate access to a mature logistics infrastructure means we have a very valuable and attractive proposition to offer,” said Steven Harrison, Port of Tyne Chief Operating Officer.

 “At this stage we are talking to various potential customers and investors in both the wood pellet and offshore sectors. These are ambitious plans which involve significant investment in the Port site and could result in the creation of hundreds of new jobs with even more created in the supply chain and indirectly in other businesses across the region. Being at this key event is one of the ways we will make sure that message gets across.”

The Port of Tyne already contributes £500m, supporting almost 10,000 jobs, to the regional economy of North East England with its car, bulk, container and passenger terminals and distribution fleet. Over £10 billion worth of goods are handled over its quays every year and over 650,000 passengers use its cruise and ferry terminal.

It has delivered record financial results in the last three years and recently overtook Dover to become the largest trust Port in the UK. It is the UK’s no. 1 car exporter, no.1 wood pellet importer and no. 5 coal importer. Record volumes are anticipated for 2012.

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Press release, October 31, 2012; Image: portoftyne