May 27 - UK port operator PD Ports has declared its 550 m deepwater quay at Teesport open for business following a GBP35 million (USD51.2 million) redevelopment project.
The 18-month development project involved the demolition of some 24,000 tonnes of existing concrete quay deck and the installation of around 10,000 m of heavy-duty steel tubes.
The quay - dubbed Number One Quay - now has the capability to accommodate two fully-laden 235 m long Panamax vessels simultaneously in 14.5 m deep water. Rail links to the quay edge and warehousing on site have also been upgraded.
As well as its increased depth, the new quay deck has a higher loading capacity - increasing from 2.5 tonnes per sq m to 10 tonnes per sq m - making it more suitable for the handling of heavy and out-of-gauge project cargoes, and allowing the UK port to provide mobilisation services for wind farm installation vessels.
