LOGISTICS
Power – The new hybrid mobile harbour crane can lift up to 125 tonnes of cargo .
dry bulk cargoes such as waste-to-energy pellets made from solid recovered fuel ( SRF ), which are used as a substitute for coal .
“ The investment in longer , wider and deeper berths has been critical to attracting some of these new renewables markets . Our deep-water berths allow us to accommodate the huge cable-laying vessels used by the offshore wind industry – many of which are much wider than traditional vessels .
“ It ’ s hugely important we take the time to maintain areas such as our quayside to better accommodate our customers ’ needs , but it also bolsters our resilience against environmental challenges and evolving industry demands .
“ Like many other ports , Port of Middlesbrough is in the race to net zero , actively planning a transition to convert all plant equipment to greener technologies over the next few years .”
The port has also heavily invested in cutting-edge infrastructure and the latest plant equipment , including mobile harbour cranes , material handlers , forklift trucks and automated handling systems , to improve operational efficiency and minimise environmental impact .
Charlie added : “ We are constantly investing in the latest plant equipment to support our customers while delivering on our environmental ambitions .
“ Our hybrid mobile harbour crane is an important investment as it can lift up to 125
tonnes of cargo , giving us increased lifting capacity , but when powered on electric , it produces zero emissions . We are now planning the infrastructure work to connect it up to the grid to enable us to do exactly that .”
More recently , the firm has expanded its 100-acre-plus footprint on Riverside Park by acquiring additional neighbouring sites including Endeavour Park , Newport Park and dry bulk facility Cobra Middlesbrough . Charlie said : “ The past two years have seen us further extend our site , allowing us to accommodate various cargo types and expand into different sectors .
“ Endeavour Park and Newport Park make excellent laydown and storage areas for the cargo passing through the port . It gives us more space to accommodate more freight and allows us to store it for extended periods .
“ The acquisition of Cobra Middlesbrough has enabled us to increase the focus on our rail offering , which we are emphasising more at the moment as it ’ s a significant part of our environmental , social and governance ( ESG ) strategy and it also supports the government ’ s ambitions for the growth of rail freight .”
The port operator also boasts a significant tenant portfolio , with 35 tenants on the Port of Middlesbrough ’ s site , many
Find out more at portofmiddlesbrough . com .
of which are growing and expanding at a pace .
Charlie said : “ It ’ s great to see more of our tenants expanding and requiring more space for their operations . It illustrates that their services are in demand and creates new opportunities for us as a port operator too .
“ In the last two years we ’ ve constructed a processing plant and purpose-built storage warehouse , specifically for one of our tenants to utilise for a new waste-toenergy facility on site – the first of its type in the UK .
“ We like to think of ourselves as a very resourceful company , going above and beyond for our tenants and customers . Building a brand new , purpose-built wasteto-energy plant and storage facility was important to us to ensure our tenants could operate efficiently and it illustrated that we are committed to our customers and also to creating a cleaner and greener environment .
“ This expansion of our tenant ’ s premises showcases how we can adapt and accommodate the evolving needs of our customers . It also illustrates our focus on the renewable energy sector and the growing demand for clean energy and sustainable solutions .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 45