Port of Tyne upgrades for offshore wind and manufacturing

The upgrade will add 400 metres of deep-water quayside and a new heavy-lift quay as part of 1 kilometre of redeveloped quayside.

A 230-acre site will also be set up within an Industrial Strategy Zone for ’advanced manufacturing sectors’, and in total it is expected to create 12,000 jobs, a statement said.

“It’s fantastic that the Port of Tyne is bringing forward a new clean energy terminal with a deep-water dock which will help us in our work to establish the North East as the home of the green energy revolution,” said North East Mayor Kim McGuinness.

“The potential for the site is huge. It could generate thousands of clean energy jobs which will benefit the region in the long-term and further establish a real hub for renewables and offshore sectors on the bank of the Tyne. I look forward to seeing how the project progresses.”

“Accelerating offshore wind, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing is a national priority and requires decisive action,” said Matt Beeton, chief executive officer at the port.

“Boosted by Industrial Strategy Zone status that provides similar benefits to a modern freeport, our expanded Tyne Clean Energy Park is uniquely positioned to support this UK-wide initiative. Located close to emerging North Sea wind arrays, this nationally strategic site offers deep-water access and a major development footprint to enable the creation of world-class infrastructure to support a growing supply chain offering.”

The Port of Tyne is one of the UK’s major deep-sea ports, just 6.5km from the mouth of the River Tyne and the North Sea.

Overall, the Port of Tyne adds £658 million to the North East economy, supporting 10,400 jobs directly and indirectly and, as one of the UK’s largest trust ports, is entirely self-financing and runs on a commercial basis, reinvesting all its profits back into facilities along the River Tyne for the benefit of the North East and all its stakeholders.