YOUR QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE PORT OF TYNE
OCTOBER 2018/ ISSUE 31
ON THE ROADS NORTHUMBRIAN ROADS’ NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART PORT PLANT 10 LOTTA BOTTLE
Greencroft Bottling, destination of millions of litres of wine imported via Port of Tyne
12 IN SAFE HANDS
Newcastle-based North P&I, the most famous business you’ve probably never heard of
PLUS OTHER REGULAR FEATURES...
We ask the questions / News round-up / Community matters
WWW.PORTOFTYNE.CO.UK
WELCOME... In this latest issue of Current, our Chair, Lucy Armstrong, details the central features of our strategic plan, outlining how we are future-proofing our business for the coming decades and protecting the hundreds of millions in GVA we contribute to the North East of England. We also go behind the scenes at Northumbrian Roads’ new state-ofthe-art manufacturing plant at the Port, where its next door neighbour, Stema Shipping, delivers the aggregate direct from Norway, to be made into surfacing for the region’s roads and pavements. It’s a fantastic story of partnership and business success here at the Port.
Greencroft Bottling is the closest bottling plant in the UK to a port, and it is making great strides towards receiving 100% of the wine it bottles for worldwide winemakers via the Port and our haulage operation.
The Port of Tyne has been transformed in the 10 years since I joined and it is an appropriate time to pass the leadership to someone who will look, I’m sure, to drive further growth in the future. I wish them every success.
We also profile North P&I, one of the world’s biggest maritime insurers, founded on the banks of the Tyne nearly 160 years ago. A globally famous name throughout the maritime community, it is less well-known in its home city, despite the fact that it insures some 5,000 ships on the seas in any given day. As you may know, I will be leaving the Port at the end of the year.
Andrew Moffat Chief Executive Officer
IN THIS ISSUE ISSUE 31/ OCTOBER 2018
FEATURES /
REGULARS /
04 ON THE ROADS
10 WHAT’S IN THE BOX
Northumbrian Roads celebrates the successful development of its state-of-theart manufacturing plant at the Port of Tyne.
Greencroft Bottling’s partnership with Port of Tyne.
12 WHO’S WHO ON THE TYNE
06 STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
The essential work done by North P&I Club in insuring thousands of vessels.
North East England Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive James Ramsbotham offers his insight into the region’s business landscape.
14 COMMUNITY MATTERS
08 FUTURE PROOFED Port of Tyne Chair Lucy Armstrong details the central elements of the Port’s strategic plan.
04 Cover: Northumbrian Roads Inside cover: Inaugural call of Seabourn Ovation at Northumbrian Quay Editorial contact Lisa Donohoe Public Relations Manager T. +44 (0) 191 440 7463 lisa.donohoe@portoftyne.co.uk
06 Port of Tyne Maritime House Tyne Dock South Shields NE34 9PT T. +44 (0) 191 455 2671
Local community events supported by the Port of Tyne.
15 NEWS ROUND UP News and views from the Port and the surrounding area.
10 Current is printed on 100% recycled paper with vegetable-based inks. Printed and published by Port of Tyne. All information correct at time of going to print. Published October 2018.
12 WWW.PORTOFTYNE.CO.UK FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @PORT_OF_TYNE
FEATURE/ NORTHUMBRIAN ROADS
THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE CHRIS DANCER, MD OF NORTHUMBRIAN ROADS, CELEBRATES THE COMPANY’S NEW PORT OF TYNE MANUFACTURING PLANT Location, as they say, is all, and Northumbrian Roads’ manufacturing site at the Port of Tyne is strategically located next door to its main aggregate supplier, whose ships sail over from Norway and discharge their precious cargo literally at the company’s door.
broaden its offering beyond road surfacing into planing (old road surface removal), road surface recycling, groundworks and haulage. Customer focus and innovation are key, and its continued diversification into manufacturing and supply is opening new markets all the time.
It is also within easy reach of the region’s network of roads, bridges, and housing developments, all of them customers for its products and services.
The company lays about 120,000 tonnes of surfacing a year and supplies 30,000+ tonnes of surfacing materials to other companies. As its supply operation grows, the site TONNES OF SURFACING IS TONNES OF AGGREGATE ARE at the Port of Tyne will expand with LAID BY NORTHUMBRIAN SHIPPED FROM NORWAY it. “Location is so important,” says Chris. “Being in a port saves truck ROADS EVERY YEAR VIA THE PORT OF TYNE movements, because the materials FOR NORTHUMBRIAN come straight to us by sea, which ROADS ANNUALLY is clean and efficient. Our plant in Sunderland is operating to capacity, and that was the impetus to invest £3m at the Port of Tyne – a move which will future proof us for 20 years.” containing hot bitumen which is mixed There are 80 people in the business, with the aggregate shipped over by most of them drivers and surfacing Stema which resides, waiting for use, The business delivers new build crew because the company’s two in piles of varying sizes and types on and resurfacing contracts for clients manufacturing plants each require the quay. ranging from Highways England and only four operatives on site. Its fivelocal authority road maintenance year plan includes growth in turnover It arrives at the Port in 30,000 tonne schemes to footpaths and roads on to £17m by 2021. Opportunities lie cargo shipments from Norway. There new housing estates. Its surfacing in housing, the new International are five deliveries per year totalling operation uses the product of its Advanced Manufacturing Park near 150,000 tonnes of material, which is manufacturing sites in Sunderland Washington, and the next phase discharged via a conveyor belt onto and the Port of Tyne - including of Sunderland’s strategic transport the quay. With each delivery, there are corridor linking the city’s, recently that made from recycled aggregate six huge piles of different grades and gathered by its planing teams. The opened Northern Spire bridge, which sizes of aggregate, which is gradually company’s groundwork elements the company surfaced, to the city fed into the plant to be mixed with include bulk excavation and disposal, centre. bitumen. It is then loaded into 20 its civil engineers provide excellent tonne wagons to go out to be laid on value solutions, and the company There are challenges, not least the roads, driveways, pavements owns its own haulage fleet capable of rocketing oil prices which are pushing and paths. moving more than 250,000 tonnes of up the cost of fuel for the haulage material per annum. operation and bitumen for the The company has about 20% of the manufacturing side. “Because of that, North East asphalt market share. Its manufacturing operation the challenge when we take on big The construction market is buoyant began a decade ago with its first projects at a fixed cost is controlling and that means roads, footpaths manufacturing site in Sunderland and the cost base behind it,” Chris says. has now been joined by its 12-month- and pavements and drives to be laid, “We also have an ageing workforce. while big infrastructure projects in the old operation in North Shields, which However, our policy of sustainable region, particularly regeneration work is central, Chris explains to the growth and diversification is working, business’s competitive edge. The Port in Sunderland and South Tyneside, and our site at the Port of Tyne is at also help to keep the order book filled. the heart of that.” of Tyne site includes four silos each
The company has spent the last 24 months establishing its operation in North Shields, where it is ideally located to receive deliveries shipped in from Norway by its next-door neighbour, Stema Shipping, and distribute the materials it makes here to other contractors or lay them itself upon miles of the North East transport and infrastructure network. Run by MD Chris Dancer alongside Sean and Chris Lynch, the two sons of the founder who formed the company in 1989, this road surfacing and highway maintenance contractor employs 80 people and turns over £13 million. Its yellow-liveried trucks are a familiar sight, their crews laying the surfacing made here at the Port on the region’s roads. “Rather like Heinz…we have over 57 different varieties of surfacing products,” says Chris. “They come in different sizes and colours – mainly black, but also green and buff. In the North East there are probably about 14 asphalt plants, and we have two of them. The market in the UK for it is worth about £3bn a year. Our Port of Tyne plant, which we have built over the last year, is state-of-the-art with a high capability for recycling.” A policy of steady, sustainable growth has seen this progressive business
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“Our Port of Tyne site is central to operations.” Chris Dancer Managing Director, Northumbrian Roads
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FEATURE/ WE ASK THE QUESTIONS
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS JAMES RAMSBOTHAM, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF NORTH EAST ENGLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, OFFERS HIS INSIGHT INTO THE REGION’S BUSINESS LANDSCAPE James Ramsbotham leads the region’s largest business membership organisation and represents North East interests locally, nationally and around the world. Prior to his current role, he served in the army before moving into corporate banking with Barclays in the North East, the Midlands and London. He returned to the region to work for Esh Group before taking on his role at the Chamber in 2006.
What is the Chamber’s role in the region?
We champion the business community in the North East, nationally and internationally. When the Chamber was founded in 1815, its mission was to help businesses achieve together what they could never do individually, and we still work on the ethos that together we are stronger. We provide members with professional services, such as legal and HR support, and we connect businesses with new customers and suppliers. We use our global networks to help businesses grow overseas, backed by our expertise in finding markets throughout the world.
And nationally?
We spend a great deal of time with North East MPs to ensure they understand our business interests and can communicate them in Westminster. We consult with members to ensure we properly map their interests and our annual manifesto is sent to all regional MPs and every Government department in London. I attend the party conferences every year and when major regional, national or international matters arise which
affect our members and our region, we write to the relevant Secretary of State and sometimes the Prime Minister to lay out what we expect from Government.
Does the Chamber influence Government policy?
We certainly do, for example, a few years ago the Highways Agency was blocking a number of developments in this region because it said the amount of traffic they would create would be more than the network could cope with. This was an unelected body dictating an important policy decision; we were successful in persuading the Secretary of State to overturn 14 decisions, which we believe unblocked 10,000 jobs and £10m investment in the region. We are currently campaigning for a third runway at Heathrow. We are the UK’s most important exporting region, and in addition to the huge amount of exports going out through the Port of Tyne, we depend upon air connectivity. Heathrow is crucial.
And on the world stage?
There is a chamber in just about every city around the world, so we are part of a truly global business network. We help to take trade missions around the world and we have experts able to provide all the documentation businesses need to trade overseas. Our export expertise is a key part of what we do for the Port of Tyne.
How would you describe the regional business landscape?
Businesses of every size and sector are growing here. We have a huge variety of sectors, including advanced manufacturing, bio pharma,
“The Port is a phenomenal asset for a region that exports as successfully as we do, yet most people don’t see what goes on inside its perimeter fence.” James Ramsbotham Chief Executive, North East England Chamber of Commerce
creative media and digital. We are doing amazing things in computer gaming, we’re a world leader in subsea technologies, and we are ground-breaking in bio-pharma and automotive technologies. We have a strong service sector in finance, leisure and tourism, professional services and more, and unemployment in the region has fallen by 35% in the last year.
Is our jobs market healthy?
In terms of employment, we are the fastest-improving region in the country. More jobs are being advertised than there are people seeking work. That tells of a vibrant and strong economy. But we are more interlinked with the EU than any other region. If we don’t get Brexit right, the North East could be more adversely affected than anywhere else.
How do we prepare for Brexit?
We are doing a lot of work to help business prepare and everyone needs to plan ahead. The difficulty is that it’s so uncertain. The Government has let us down badly; business needs certainty and the Government has developed only uncertainty. We have businesses thinking about relocating in the EU and others having to think
about the markets they operate in, which impacts their supply chains. There are complications with legislation and there will huge bureaucratic difficulties if we crash out without a deal.
So how resilient are we?
The threat posed by Brexit is greater here than for any other region, so irrespective of resilience, the damage will be there. 80% of the automotive sector trades with the EU. It will be badly affected and that will impact along the supply chain. Businesses can look for markets outside the EU, but if you look at the automotive sector as an example, if you want to export to Europe you have a factory in Europe. That’s why the Port is so important to Nissan.
What is the most satisfying part of your job?
I work with some of the best business leaders in the world, leading incredible businesses. This region is full of passionate people doing incredible things. In some ways, one of the most untold stories of the region is our success. The Port is a phenomenal asset for a region that exports as successfully as we do, yet most people don’t see what goes in inside. It is our job to tell them.
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FEATURE/ LUCY ARMSTRONG
FUTURE PROOFED LUCY ARMSTRONG, CHAIR OF THE BOARD AT THE PORT OF TYNE, OUTLINES THE BUSINESS’S AMBITIOUS STRATEGIC PLAN
£690M 14K
GVA IS CONTRIBUTED BY THE PORT OF TYNE TO THE NORTH EAST REGION
Lucy Armstrong, who took over as Chair of the board at the Port of Tyne in July 2017, is excited about the future. She believes the Port will continue to steer a successful course, delivering ambitious development and growth. In her day job, Lucy is Chief Executive of The Alchemists, which works with high growth businesses to accelerate their development and success. She has extensive experience at board level in a variety of sectors and in helping to shape businesses for long-term sustainable growth. She is an enthusiastic advocate for the Port’s four core objectives – Grow the Business, Develop and Reward People, Zero Harm, and Minimise Environmental Impact – which lie at the heart of the Port’s Strategic Plan. “At the global level there are major changes affecting the maritime world: Climate change is opening the Arctic shipping routes, which means Asia is more accessible to the North East. Brexit obviously brings challenges, but 95% of the world’s goods travel by sea and will continue to do so. The
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FULL TIME JOBS ARE SUPPORTED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY THE PORT
Government’s new Maritime 2050 strategy will be vital to our national long-term aims and more locally at the Port of Tyne good performance and sustained investment will enable us to deliver our vision.
“Any target needs to be ambitious. Good performance and sustained investment will enable us to deliver our vision.” Lucy Armstrong Chair, Port of Tyne forward-thinking decisions and shaping the future strategy. Lucy believes this focus on how people behave in their work and towards one another will shape and define the culture of the Port a long time into the future. She also believes this will be key to its future business success. “Our ambition is to be known as a great place to work. It will take us some time to achieve this but already we have introduced flexible working in the warehouse, developed specialists in major areas and we’re investing in apprenticeships and career development.
“The core objectives are central to everything we do and how we behave as an organisation. We will grow and have set ourselves the target of doubling the enterprise value of the business in five years. We are committed to developing and rewarding our people. This “The Port has a remit to support means flexible working as well as the economy regionally and well as good pay. It means career nationally and play its part in the development opportunities and Northern Powerhouse,” says Lucy. great training for all colleagues. “Our trust status gives us flexibility We want the Port to be a place in considering opportunities where people care for one another beyond the narrow confines of and avoid accidents. The port is a our own profitability. We can be hazardous place and we must keep a key partner in a wide array of one another safe. Each of us has opportunities; be that renewable this responsibility and it trumps energy, waste management, or everything else we do. The Port subsea sectors, all of which are is a responsible corporate citizen, considered in our new five-year committed to minimising our plan 2018-2022. The region is environmental impact,” says Lucy. at the forefront to seize these opportunities and as a Port, we Also central to the Port’s future need to be able to support and are its behavioural values – Open, participate in these projects.” Excellent, Respectful, and Responsible – and their role in One example is the Port’s record leading innovation, collaboration, of investing in infrastructure and
promoting the benefits of short sea feeder services to reduce road miles. “We are a long-term business with long-term objectives shaped by global market and customer trends,” adds Lucy. “Enterprise zones are part of the strategic economic plan in this area and we are a key part of that. Innovation is vital, we were the first UK port to handle wood pellet as power generators turned to renewable energy sources. It’s a testament to our skills that we are trusted by our customers and it is important we continue to adapt and develop our offering for all our customers, from Nissan to the growing offshore renewable sector. “As we look forward, I and the Board thank our outgoing Chief Executive Andrew Moffat for his work over the past decade and we look forward to building on his and the executive team’s achievements as we prepare for the future. “Like all businesses, the Port faces challenges and uncertainties ahead, but strategies are in place to address these. By seizing and winning new opportunities the Port will thrive and be an exciting and rewarding place to work and do business with. We will continue to support the economy, industry, and trade of the UK and the region. I am confident we will succeed, and I am honoured to be part of the Port of Tyne team.”
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WHAT’S IN THE BOX/ GREENCROFT BOTTLING
DURHAM BUSINESS HAS A LOTTA BOTTLE WHEN DID YOU LAST CONSIDER HOW YOUR EVENING TIPPLE GOT FROM THE VINE TO THE BOTTLE? THE ANSWER MAY LIE IN THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PORT OF TYNE AND GREENCROFT BOTTLING Visit the home page of Greencroft Bottling’s website and you are greeted with footage of thousands of wine bottles travelling incredibly fast through a conveyor belt system. It really does look surprisingly fast, but when you consider that this plant can fill up to 90,000 bottles and boxes of wine an hour, you understand why. This wine is shipped to Greencroft Bottling in its millions of litres, largely from the Southern Hemisphere via UK ports including the Port of Tyne. The wine arrives in 20ft steel containers each carrying 24,000 litres which is then transported by road to the Greencroft Bottling site in Annfield Plain, Co Durham to be bottled, pouched or bagged and boxed at a rate of up to 2 million litres every week, which says a good deal about the UK’s appetite for alcoholic grape juice from the other side of the world. Greencroft Bottling is one of the largest contract wine bottlers in the UK, working with some of the world’s leading wine brands. The company has recently invested £3 million in its filling lines and labellers, and operates seven hightech filling lines 24 hours a day, six days a week, enabling it to pack a range of products in a variety of sizes and formats including glass and PET, bag-in-boxes and the UK’s only wine-specific Tetra Pak filling line. It sounds – and looks - incredible, but it is its quality, capacity and
flexibility of service which gives Greencroft Bottling the edge, says Trevor Lloyd, Director of Planning and Procurement. “We are the only wine bottling company in the UK offering such a variety of packaging formats,” he says, “and, our business has grown because of that, to the point where we are now serving most of the world’s leading wine businesses at any one time.” The Port of Tyne is becoming increasingly important to the logistical operations at Greencroft Bottling, which encourages its customers to ship via South Shields in order to reduce road haulage miles and therefore carbon footprint. Not only that, the Port has its own haulage operation, so Greencroft Bottling’s customers are secure in the knowledge that not only are their containers unloaded by the Port, they are also delivered safely into Greencroft Bottling’s expert hands by the Port’s own trucks. Once the wine reaches Greencroft Bottling, it is analysed by the company’s on-site lab to ensure quality has not been compromised by the journey between winery and the bottling plant, which can take up to four months at sea. The business, which is part of the Lanchester group of companies alongside sister company Lanchester Wines, is in a position of significant growth. “Greencroft Bottling has been operating since 2003 and in that time we’ve taken volumes up to 75m litres last year,”
“We are the closest UK bottling plant to a port and mile for mile we are as good as any UK operator for our carbon footprint.” Trevor Lloyd Director of Planning and Procurement, Greencroft Bottling says Trevor. “We are now heading for annual volumes in excess of 100m litres and we will continue to grow further.” This is a green business, as is the whole group. “Being a sustainable business is hugely important to the group, which is predominantly powered by renewable wind energy generated by our three on-site wind turbines and our solar array, while our warehouses in Gateshead have the UK’s second largest open loop water source heat pump,” says Trevor. “The majority of our bottles are made from partly recycled glass while both bottles and Tetra Pak packaging are recyclable.
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BOTTLES AND BOXES OF WINE CAN BE FILLED EVERY HOUR AT GREENCROFT BOTTLING’S PLANT
In addition, through our partners we recycle our waste and surplus packaging materials including plastic, cardboard, label reels, caps and glass.” Expansion is the watchword for the future. “There are still a significant number of customers out there and more growth to come from the customers we have already,” says Trevor. “We have significant building opportunities within the site and we may yet move into even more packaging options.” Indeed, The Lanchester group of companies is on track for a record year and, concludes Trevor, “we see the Port of Tyne being an integral part of our future growth.”
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THE NUMBER OF LITRES OF WINE IN EACH CONTAINER COMING THROUGH THE PORT OF TYNE FOR GREENCROFT
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WHO’S WHO ON THE TYNE/ NORTH P&I CLUB
IN SAFE HANDS ONE OF THE MOST GLOBALLY FAMOUS NAMES IN SHIPPING HAS BEEN BASED ON THE TYNE FOR NEARLY 160 YEARS, YET IT IS LARGELY UNKNOWN ON ITS OWN DOORSTEP. MEET NORTH P&I… You could say The North of England Protecting & Indemnity Association, known as North P&I Club, is the most famous Newcastle-based firm most of us in the region have never heard of, yet its name is as familiar to millions of seafarers and ship owners worldwide as their own craft.
The percentages tell you little about the scale of this operation, which, from its Newcastle Quayside base, insures between 4,000-5,000 ships sailing the high seas at any one time. With an A rating from Standard & Poors and a turnover of $400 million, this is one of only 13 businesses - IG clubs as they are known - in the world offering P&I insurance services to shipping companies.
“We no longer have to be based on the banks of the Tyne, but we are definitely here to stay.” Paul Jennings Chief Executive Officer, North P&I Club
member companies today, ranging from big operators with 200 ships to smaller businesses with three or four general cargo vessels.” “During the last 160 years we have The risks these craft face include grown from a minnow insuring 2% collision, sinking and pollution. The of the world fleet to become one of sums involved can be eye-watering. the world’s largest shipping insurers, Take the ill-fated cruise ship Costa looking after just over 12% of the world Concordia, insured by North P&I, fleet,” says Paul. which was grounded and partially sank off Italy in 2012 with the loss of In contrast to the days when it was The business mainstay is bulk carriers, 32 lives.“The ship was worth about founded, when the Tyne was packed insuring the world’s three largest $500m, yet it cost twice that - $1bn – with local shipping, North P&I operators in Maersk, MSC, and the to remove the wreck. Compensation clients are now spread throughout CMA CGM Group, which between for loss of life was only, in comparison the world - hence its relatively low them share 40% of the world container to the salvage cost, $100m,” says Paul. profile in its home city. 38% of its market, moving massive vessels each “It was the biggest claim we’ve handled clients are Asia Pacific-based, 10% carrying some 22,000 containers in many years.” in the Middle East, 6% in North all over the world. North P&I also America and the rest in Europe, looks after some of the biggest tanker Among the 280-strong team of lawyers most of them in Greece. As a result, operators in the world, which move and insurance agents in Newcastle – the UK accounts for less than 5% crude oil, jet fuel, petrol and the like many of them former mariners – is a of its customer base. Just recently across the world’s oceans. team which manages 6,000 claims the Club announced it was opening a year, ranging from minor injuries a new office in North America to “People don’t necessarily understand or illness to crew, which may involve develop relationships with brokers that over 90% of everything we getting personnel off a ship and to and shipowners across the Americas consume has been moved by ship,” land for treatment, to collision and market. says Paul. “We have about 300 cargo damage. The business did essentially the same job, though on a much smaller, local scale, when it was founded in 1860. In those days, there were P&I clubs in ports all over the UK, which banded together in securing the risk between them – hence the term club. As a mutual, its clients, who are known as members, own the business, YEARS - THE PERIOD which became North P&I in 1998 NORTH P&I HAS BEEN following the merger of Newcastle P&I OF EVERYTHING WE and the North P&I Club. ON THE TYNE, SINCE ITS CONSUME TODAY IS MOVED
“North P&I,” says its Chief Executive Officer Paul Jennings, “makes the world of shipping go round, yet few people on our doorstep would know that, despite the fact that we’ve been based on Newcastle Quayside for almost 160 years and we insure approximately one in eight merchant ships on the world’s seas today.”
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FOUNDING IN 1860
In 2014, North acquired Sunderland Marine – the largest global insurer of fishing vessels – which retains its
trading name and insures 65%-70% of the UK fishing fleet, in addition to fish farms, mainly in the UK and Canada. Rapid growth over the last 20 years is down to a planned policy. “We made a decision to grow while maintaining our ethos of personal service,” says Paul, who joined the business in 1984. “We offer the same products as our competitors because we have common insurance arrangements, but the personal way we interact with our members is unique to us.” The business, he says, has remained agile to the changing needs of customers by having local agents, men and women on the ground worldwide who provide local knowledge. The shipping industry is increasingly corporatised, which means the business must adapt to ensure that its offer is relevant, but also brings further opportunity to be involved with larger operators. Its biggest challenge today is of course Brexit – notably, the fact that the position around trading and passporting in the EU has still not been clarified. To protect the 46% of its business which comes from Europe, North P&I is to launch a base in Dublin, at a cost of £2m per year – a matter of some frustration for Paul. But even Brexit won’t make this famous name consider a move from its historic home on the banks of the Tyne. In fact, barring accidents, it is likely to be in Newcastle for another 160 years. “We no longer have to be based on the Tyne, but we are definitely here to stay,” says Paul.
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COMMUNITY MATTERS/
FESTIVAL FUN THANKS TO PORT The Port of Tyne has had a busy summer sponsoring major festivals on both banks of the river. The Port supported the Mouth of the Tyne Festival at Tynemouth Priory and Castle and the Sunday concert series at Bents Park, South Shields - part of South Tyneside Festival. The Mouth of the Tyne Festival attracted around 100,000 visitors who enjoyed performances from artists including Paloma Faith, James Arthur, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, and Beverley Knight. The Port of Tyne has supported the festival since it launched in 2004 and this year’s event also featured a free programme of events including international street entertainment, live jazz music and a children’s pageant. Across the river in South Shields, the Port of Tyne-sponsored the Sunday concert series featuring acts including Pixie Lott, Heather Small, Aston Merrygold, Atomic Kitten, The Vamps, Scouting for Girls, and Rebecca Ferguson. The Port also supported the South Tyneside Festival Summer Parade of Monsters, Myths and Magic featuring more than 2,000 dancers, artists, performers and local people.
THE SOUTH SHIELDS LECTURE 2018 The 2018 South Shields Lecture in September was delivered by former Prime Minister Sir John Major. The event, entitled Britain, Europe and the Future of Politics, was again sponsored by the Port of Tyne and was hosted for the tenth year by Harton Academy. The lecture was established in 2001, when the former Labour leader Neil Kinnock was speaker. Since then, the event has continued to grow and evolve and other lecturers have included the actor Patrick Stewart, the comedian Jo Brand, and film producer David Puttnam. David Miliband said: “We are living through momentous national decisions - notably in respect of our relations with the rest of Europe - and
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respectful, informed discussion has never been more important. “The South Shields Lecture was established to bring national and international perspectives to South Shields.” Sir John Major said: “Politics does not always have to be a battleground, and I believe that the more electors see politicians engaging and debating with each other without rancour – across the political divide – the better it will be for public life.” Andrew Moffat, Port of Tyne Chief Executive Officer, said: “The South Shields Lecture brings national and international acclaim to the region, and we are delighted that our sponsorship helps to make it possible.”
Marko Rupena / Shutterstock.com
NEWS ROUND-UP/
OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE PROJECT AT PORT The deep-water heavy lift vessel Aegir recently undertook a number of highly complex heavy lifting operations at the Port of Tyne’s Northumbrian Quay in North Shields.
REGISTER NOW TO JOIN THE BRITISH PORTS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Aegir was in the river for around two weeks, during which time a number of wind turbine jackets were transported down river from Smulders Projects UK, based in Wallsend.
operation made the Port of Tyne’s Northumbrian Quay ideally placed to handle this work, due to its deep water and close proximity to open sea.”
The jackets, which measure between 68–81 metres high and weigh 1,300 tons, were constructed by Belgianowned Smulders UK. The wind turbine jackets were towed from Wallsend on a barge to the deep-water berth at the Port of Tyne. Aegir then came alongside the barge to lift each jacket (one at a time) deploying its 125 metre long, 96 metre high main crane. After securing, Aegir sailed to Scotland. Steven Clapperton, Port of Tyne
NEW DIRECTOR JOINS PORT
This year’s British Ports Association Conference will be hosted by the Port of Tyne from 9-12 October at Sage Gateshead, one of the most iconic landmark buildings in the UK, located in NewcastleGateshead.
The Port of Tyne is welcoming a new non-executive director to its board.
The annual BPA Conference is a unique opportunity for industry partners and key stakeholders to catch up with all the latest policy and industry trends in the ports and harbours sector from across the UK. To register, please visit the BPA website by scanning the QR code with your tablet or smart phone.
Harbour Master & Director of Health & Safety, Environment and Marine, said: “The size of the ship, with its 4,000 tons revolving heavy lift crane, and the complexity of the
He said: “I’m pleased to be joining the Port of Tyne at an exciting time for the future of the maritime sector. I hope my experience in every aspect of maritime activity will be an asset.”
With more than 30 years’ experience in shipping, maritime safety and engineering, Mike Comerford is a Chartered Engineer (C. Eng), a Member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (MRINA) and an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute (AFNI).
Mike is also a non-executive director of David MacBrayne Limited; one of the largest ferry operating groups in Scotland transporting 5 million passengers annually.
He brings a wealth of expertise to the Port of Tyne having held previous senior roles within the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Lloyd’s Register and Bureau Veritas.
Lucy Armstrong, Chair of the Port of Tyne, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Mike on board, his wideranging experience will further strengthen the team.”
organisations of all types and sizes from across the UK and overseas, judges consider entrants’ occupational health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.
Medal for five consecutive Gold awards. It’s testament to the huge efforts that have been made by everyone at the Port.”
STAYING SAFE The Port of Tyne was a winner at the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards 2018, achieving a Gold Medal for its five consecutive Gold awards in the prestigious annual scheme run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Through the RoSPA Awards scheme, which is open to businesses and
Andrew Moffat, Port of Tyne Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to have achieved a Gold
Julia Small, RoSPA’s Head of Qualifications, Awards and Events, said: “The ROSPA Awards are the most highly respected in the health and saftey arena, with almost 2,000 entrants every year.”
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BRITISH PORTS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE 2018 9-12 OCTOBER SAGE GATESHEAD
Hosted by
CONVENTIONAL & BULK CARGO CAR TERMINALS CRUISE & FERRY LOGISTICS ESTATES