PD Ports Announces Teesport Offshore Gateway as Key Player in UK’s Offshore Wind Expansion
Computer generated image to show the location and scale of the Teesport Offshoer Gateway development within PD Ports' Teesport estate.
PD Ports has expressed strong support for the Crown Estate’s recent announcement regarding the Round 6 offshore auction, confirming its intention to develop the ‘Teesport Offshore Gateway’. This facility, situated on the River Tees, is poised to become a significant deep-water offshore wind manufacturing and assembly hub, marking a crucial step in advancing the UK’s offshore wind programme.
The central North Sea licence plots, anticipated to deliver 6GW of capacity, are strategically located near the River Tees. The Teesport Offshore Gateway is designed to provide the necessary scale and deep-water access that the UK currently lacks for the assembly, manufacture, and deployment of both fixed and floating offshore wind technologies.
According to economic modelling, the facility is projected to contribute £270 million (GVA) annually to the local economy and create over 2,200 direct and indirect jobs. Once completed, it will stand as the largest and most capable offshore wind port facility in the UK, featuring berths extending up to 1km in length, a depth of 16m, and approximately 300 acres of supporting land within PD Ports’ Teesport estate.
The Teesport Offshore Gateway could potentially be operational by 2028, pending a final investment decision. This development is part of an established offshore wind and port manufacturing cluster that includes JDR Cables’ subsea cable facility, EDF’s offshore wind operations base, and significant fabrication activities from SEAH and Able.
PD Ports has already secured consents for the deep-water berth development at the site, which is currently undergoing a planning variation to accommodate offshore wind use. The company is engaged in advanced discussions with developers, manufacturers, and installation partners, indicating a robust market interest in the Teesport Offshore Gateway.
Frans Calje, Chief Executive Officer at PD Ports, commented: “Today’s announcement underlines the Government’s ambition in offshore wind. What the sector now needs is the port infrastructure to match. Teesport Offshore Gateway can fill a critical gap in the UK’s offshore wind supply chain. We have the site, the consents, the deep water access and an established industrial cluster around us. We can be operational by 2028, directly supporting the Clean Power 2030 mission and creating more than 2,200 jobs and £270m GVA per year across Teesside. The deep-water port would also secure a decisive competitive advantage for the UK, capable of taking the largest vessels and wind turbine generators along the East Coast.”
PD Ports is committed to ongoing engagement with the Government, the Crown Estate, Great British Energy, the National Wealth Fund, and industry partners to establish the investment framework necessary to advance the Teesport Offshore Gateway project.
