PD Ports welcomes consultation on freeports

The government’s recently announced public consultation on freeports has been welcomed by port operator PD Ports, it said in a release. The aim of the consultation is to award ten locations special trade status by the end of 2020.

PD Ports owns Teesport, one of the busiest ports in the UK and an international gateway to the north of the country. It also operates at thirteen other locations across the country.

The potential benefits of freeports in supporting future trade growth have been the subject of lobbies by Teesport bosses in recent years. The port was chosen by the government to announce the Free Ports Commission in August 2019.

Teesport is “the northern gateway” for international trade, PD Ports said, describing it as “an ideal location to build on the company’s history of delivering port-centric activity, backed by an available land bank and skilled labour pool to support further growth”.

Jerry Hopkinson, chief operating officer and vice chairman of PD Ports, believes there is no better case than Teesport for freeport status. He said: “In our view, there really is no better case than Teesport. We have one of the deepest rivers in the UK and can take some of the world’s biggest ships. Depending on the cargo, we think the River Tees can handle more than 80m tonnes.”

He added that having a freeport on Teesside “would not be a silver bullet, but rather a catalyst for growth; creating thousands of jobs and revitalising the industry that was once so prolific in the area.”

For more information visit www.pdports.co.uk

17th February 2020