SUSTAINABILITY
Future-proofing – Michelle Robson joined PD Ports earlier this year and will lead on overseeing the company ’ s sustainability ambitions . PICTURE : MIKE SREENAN
There has also been major investment in low-carbon equipment , including £ 9m spent on two electric-hydraulic bulk cargo cranes , a fleet of electric vehicles for Tees Dock and efforts to switch existing handling and loading equipment at the dock from diesel to alternative fuels .
This summer has also seen the arrival of the £ 23m Emerald Duchess , a new state-of-the-art dredger for the Tees which runs on hydro-treated vegetable oil ( HVO ) fuel , with potential to swap to ethanol or methanol once the technology is sufficiently advanced .
The wider aim is for the whole company , across 11 UK sites , to reach net zero operations by 2040 .
PD Ports is also supporting several environmental organisations in the region , including the Tees Rivers Trust , the Teesmouth Seal Conservation Trust and RSPB Saltholme , in efforts to clean up historic pollution in the Tees and restore lost biodiversity .
On the social responsibility strand of the sustainability strategy , PD Ports has a longstanding commitment to introducing young people to port and maritime careers and working to instil ambition and selfbelief .
Through its Teesport Explorers programme for primary age children and partnerships with High Tide Foundation ( for 14- to 17-year-olds ) and the Power of Women initiative , the strategy has set a target for introducing 3,000 young people to the port and maritime sector by 2030 .
The firm also has a partnership in place with leading autism charity Daisy Chain , with mutual support in place that will see PD Ports receive training in how to help neurodivergent people thrive in the workplace and as job applicants .
Michelle said : “ PD Ports ’ commitment to its people and to its wider communities is key for me – without people , a business cannot operate . We will ensure the people who work with us go home safely every day and are well-trained and encouraged to reach the best of their ability .
“ The work being done with our educational programmes is inspiring – today ’ s children are tomorrow ’ s workforce and there is so much that can be done to make children across Teesside more aware of the possibilities on their doorstep and consider one of the many careers available to them in the port and maritime sectors .
“ We want to open up doors to innovation and business growth and support a diverse workforce .
“ That feeds into our governance objectives too – we have a commitment to best practice and transparency , by operating with good character in all areas .
“ I am new to the business , but so far , I like what I see . We will keep improving and keep looking for the changes – large and small – that we can make in all areas to achieve that aim of being the most sustainable port company in the UK .”
Read the full PD Ports sustainability strategy at pdports . co . uk / sustainability
Inspiration – pupils from Captain Cook Primary School in Marton helped launch PD Ports ’ sustainability strategy by naming its two electric-hydraulic cranes – Net Zero Hero and Lean Green Machine .
PICTURE : TOM BANKS
The voice of business in the Tees region | 47