PD Ports has today announced a new container feeder service into Teesport by Unifeeder, one of Europe's largest feeder operations. This new service, which will sail into Teesport three times weekly, will open up the German market via Hamburg and also serve Rotterdam.
Frans Calje, PD Ports' MD unitised, said: "I am delighted to announce that we are Unifeeder's port of choice on the North East coast and will shortly be welcoming the first Unifeeder vessel into Teesport.
"This new call into Teesport greatly enhances the network of services which we can offer to the North East region's importers and exporters.
"Our overall strategy at the port is to expand its port wide capacity and going forward we have considerable growth opportunities, backed by long term investment, which will position Teesport as a major player in the container market."
Unifeeder's Jesper Kristensen, Managing Director, said: "We are very pleased and excited to include Teesport in our already extensive feeder network. We hope our many customers will benefit from our decision to include the UK East Coast in our future service calls."
PD Ports' recent growth in container volumes at its Teesport container terminals is also attributed to the highly successful portcentric logistics strategy adopted by the port in recent years. The success of portcentric logistics at Teesport has attracted leading retailers ASDA and Tesco, as well as Taylors of Harrogate.
Commenting on Teesport's volumes so far this year, Mr Calje continues: "In the first quarter of 2010, we have seen some 68% year-on-year growth in volumes at our two container terminals compared to the first quarter of 2009 from 35,000 to 58,700 TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit). We are expecting to see a 40% growth over the whole year to December 2010 - watch this space."
Teesport's total unitised business, which includes ro-ro services, now handles over 425,000 TEU per annum.