PD Ports, Teesport has been hands on at evaluating and where practical, energy saving with environmentally sound working practices. All, except one of our navigation buoys are solar powered, the exception is the Tees Fairway Buoy which utilises wave activated generators to power the high tech radio controlled on board systems. PD Ports, Teesport recently finished on going work to replace steel buoys with low maintenance plastic units. PD Ports, Teesport believes this switch to be an industry leading environmental practice and one which will use less fuel and paint in order to maintain this essential safety equipment.

The conclusion of a project to create the world's first hydrogen powered lighthouse at South Gare, Redcar is now operational. This use of fuel cell technology is of particular relevance to the Tees Valley, which is the leading UK producer of industrial hydrogen.

The PD Ports, Teesport conservancy team have recently implemented an oil/water separator in order to cleanse oily bilge water from the Port’s dredgers, harbour launch, pilot boat and buoy tender vessels. This is a UK first for a new generation of separators produced by a German company, Westphalia Seperators. The unit provided has been used as a test bed in order to achieve International Marine Organisation separation requirements.

Regular exercises take place to work with major local petrochemical companies in order to test their Control of Major Accident Hazards emergency and disaster recovery plans. These exercises and plans are supported by specialist equipment owned by PD Ports, Teesport. Costing over £1m, the equipment can be promptly deployed in case of any marine pollution incident.

A new contract for the provision of a sea borne waste collection vessel commenced in the financial year 2005-2006. This has been implemented by
PD Ports, Teesport, working in conjunction with local tug service provider Svitzer Marine in order to meet new Port Waste Regulations.

Captain Jerry Drewitt, Harbour Master for PD Ports, Teesport, currently chairs the European Marine Site for the Tees. This important role involves managing all bodies, councils and users who have a positive influence on the inter tidal parts of the river. In the long term this ensures ongoing positive developments of the European Marine Site on the Tees.

“The European Marine Site, is as its name implies, quite a special place indeed. The natural features of this site and the internationally important populations of birds it supports are located on one of the most heavily industrialised estuaries in the country, explains Mike Quigley of Natural England.

“In addition to a world class industry, the Tees Estuary is home to the third busiest port in the UK. Natural England has benefited from a productive relationship with the port operators PD Ports, Teesport over many years.

“As chair of the European Marine Site Management Group, PD Ports, Teesport takes its responsibility seriously both in the day to day running of the commercial aspects of the Port, but also in there role as Harbour Authority.

“ One of the most significant activities undertaken by
PD Ports, Teesport is the dredging of the estuary in order to maintain navigable channels and berths. Rather than simply disposing of this material to sea, through discussion with us and the Environment Agency, PD Ports, Teesport has developed a beneficial use for some of this material in restoring bird feeding areas that have been eroded away,” concluded Quigley.

“At PD Ports, Teesport we work hard to manage our business to look after the needs of all stakeholders. We fully recognise that all environmental aspects of running a busy port are equally as important as meeting the needs of our day to day customers, staff and ships' crews. As a business we continuously strive to take into account the impact our activities have on the ecological environment in and around the Port.”