PD Ports officially unveils £23 million dredger

A port operator has officially named a new £23 million dredger.

PD Ports has christened the Emerald Duchess in a champagne ceremony.

Built to keep the River Tees flowing, bosses say the Dutch-built vessel “represents the company’s commitment to the economic and environmental sustainability” of the trade conduit.

They add the bright green vessel, which can carry 2500 tonnes and hold up 2000 cubic metres of dredged material, will serve the River Tees “for up to 50 years”.

Fitted with a power management system that includes a battery pack equivalent to ten Tesla cars, it will run on fuel made from hydrotreated vegetable oil.

Officials say it is also equipped with hatches that allow power units to be swapped for modern fuel cells, such as methanol or ethanol fuel, as technology matures, meaning it will eventually run with zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Frans Calje, chief executive of PD Ports, which operates Teesport and acts as statutory harbour authority for the River Tees, said: “The dredging activity we carry out on the river is under-appreciated – and misunderstood – by many.

“But, without dredging, the river doesn’t function.

“It would be a matter of weeks, if not days, before vessels were unable to safely navigate the Tees, and that would bring a huge proportion of this region’s trade and industrial activity to a crashing halt.

“With a role of such importance, we wanted to bring the best of the best to the Tees, putting our money where our mouth is.”

The Emerald Duchess was unveiled in a ceremony attended by 250 people from across Teesside’s river community, as well as maritime experts and business and education leaders.

Sue Green, who has served PD Ports as the harbour master’s secretary for almost 40 years, was handed the honour of being the vessel’s godmother, with port chaplain Deacon Peter Barrigan blessing the dredger.

Sue added: “I’ve seen new vessels arrive, reach the end of their working lives and sail into the sunset.

“I look forward to seeing the Emerald Duchess on the river, knowing I have a connection to her.”

The event was supported by catering, aviation and business students from Stockton Riverside, as part of PD Ports’ commitment to offering work experience to young people.

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