Port of Tyne completes £2m extension

The terminal originally opened in 1991 and – almost 30 years on - handles everything from manufacturing parts for Nissan, Komatsu and Hitachi to 30% of the UK’s tea, wine, clothing, and consumer goods.

Growth of almost 25% in container volumes has seen the port invest £2m extending the 20 acre site – extending its capacity by 40% to almost 70,000 square metres.

Matt Beeton, Port of Tyne Chief Executive Officer, said: “This marks a new era in transformation for the Port of Tyne, helping global shippers to transport cargo more efficiently to their destination and ensuring we continue to service a growing customer base in the North East, North West and Scotland.

“Container shipping through the Port of Tyne avoids congestion in the south and unnecessary road miles reducing carbon emissions by as much as 80% for some of our customers as well as saving time and money.”

The extension was officially opened by James Ramsbotham chief executive of The North East England Chamber of Commerce.

He said: “Investing in multimodal connectively is so important for the northern economy, I am delighted to officially declare the new ‘Tyne Container Terminal’ open for business, and it will provide a state-of-the-art gateway for importers and exporters with road, rail and deep-sea connections linking directly to the heart of the UK mainland.”

The extension was completed in just under six months by Seymour Civil Engineering Contractors Ltd based in Hartlepool.