UK Docks steers Teesside shipyard revival

A historic Teesside shipyard is set for revival as a North East marine services company expands its operations, securing new jobs and investment in the region.

UK Docks Marine Services has taken full control of the former Smith’s dockyards after securing a long-term lease on two additional dry docks. 

The move reunites the entire site under one operator for the first time since its closure in 1987.

Bosses say the agreement with PD Ports, following months of negotiation, will trigger a multi-million-pound five-year investment to bring the ten-acre yard “back to life”, expanding UK Docks’ capacity to handle larger vessels and international contracts, enabling the company to “look for new opportunities” and expand “existing services and facilities”.

They add that the newly leased yard offers lay-by berths, an extra 200 metres of quay space, extensive fabrication, engineering workshop facilities and laydown areas.

Jonathan Wilson, UK Docks’ managing director, said: “We are delighted to have taken over the site and look forward to redeveloping it and restoring it to a functional facility again.

“We see a lot of potential and possibilities in the site and have a five-year plan to maximise it as an asset.

“Work will start immediately bringing it back to life, and we expect to have it effectively operational again very soon.

“The lease effectively trebles UK Docks’ footprint on the Tees from five acres to 16.5 acres, and we plan to have both sites working in harmony with each other to the benefit of our customers.”

Frans Calje, chief executive officer of PD Ports, added: “We are delighted to agree this deal with UK Docks, which will see the full complement of dry docks on the Tees brought back into use and with great plans to upgrade the facilities.

“The dry docks at Tees Commerce Park have been a key part of the river economy for many years, back to the days of Smith’s Dock, and play a vital role in servicing and maintaining the many vessels that visit and work on this river.”

Family-owned UK Docks Marine Services, which was established by the Wilson family on a single slipway in South Shields in 1992, has grown into the UK’s largest independent ship repair firm, with an established track record of servicing Royal Navy vessels.

Back in 2014, the company took over the former Smiths Dock Ship Repair Company on the Tees and acquired two dry docks, receiving its first vessel in 2015 after extensive restoration of the dilapidated site.

Jonathan added: “Once again, UK Docks is investing in a national industry which many people regarded as being in terminal decline.

“We’ve shown that’s not the case over the years, and we’re very excited about what we might accomplish on Teesside in the years ahead.

“Having four docks will allow us to look for new opportunities and expand on our existing services and facilities.”

UK Docks was advised by Malcolm Wood of Mincoffs Solicitors.

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