PD Ports Opens New Marine Base on the River Tees in Middlesbrough

PD Ports, the UK port operator, announced on October 19, 2026 the opening of a new marine base at Cargo Fleet Wharf, within Teesport Commerce Park in Middlesbrough, northeast England. The three-storey facility, built with an investment of several million pounds, replaces the former Vulcan Street premises, which dated back to the 1960s, and brings together the company's marine operations and marine engineering teams under one roof.

The new base includes a dedicated workshop for vessel maintenance. For the first time, smaller vessels can be lifted from the river onto the wharf and moved into a covered space for maintenance and repair work, which, according to Port Technology, aims to improve maintenance efficiency and provide safer working conditions for marine engineers.

The teams based at the facility carry out PD Ports' statutory port authority functions on the Tees and at the Port of Hartlepool, which include dredging, hydrographic surveying, maintenance of aids to navigation and oil spill response. According to Baird Maritime, PD Ports' jurisdiction covers a 12-mile (19.3-kilometre) stretch of the River Tees and an area extending three miles (4.8 kilometres) out into the North Sea, with its port office tracking around 4,100 vessel arrivals and departures per year.

PD Ports Chief Executive Paul Foreman described the multimillion-pound investment as a visible example of the company's commitment, noting that it represents an investment both in the marine fleet and in the river and the wider economy it serves. For his part, Marine Director Chris Stocks said the facility places the company at the heart of the river it serves and gives its staff the environment and equipment needed to do their job effectively, while also providing a space to bring together river users, customers and partners.

PD Ports designed and delivered much of the project using its own civil engineering and facilities teams, working alongside local suppliers. The opening adds to other recent investments by the company in its marine capabilities, including a £23 million ($30 million) outlay on the vessel Emerald Duchess.