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16 June 2026 PD Ports has further strengthened its bulk handling capability at Teesport with the arrival of a third electric-hydraulic Liebherr LPS 550 crane, representing a £5.4m investment in the port's infrastructure. The new crane complements two identical models introduced in 2023 - an £8.6m investment - and significantly enhances Teesport's ability to handle a wider range of bulk and breakbulk commodities, reduce emissions improve discharge rates and respond quickly and flexibly to customer demand. In addition to the Liebherr crane, PD Ports has also invested in new, task‑specific grabs, which allow our operations teams to better match equipment to individual cargoes and conditions. A new grab designed to handle scrap metal will increase handling capacity from 7.5 cubic metres to 17 cubic metres per grab. The scrap grab also features bespoke lifting points, allowing plant to be transferred from shore to ship without changing the gear. 
Liebherr 550 LPS electric hydraulic crane being unloaded on to Tees Bulks Quay. Image by PD Ports 
Liebherr 550 LPS electric hydraulic crane being unloaded on to Tees Bulks Quay. Image by PD Ports
The latest investment builds on a sustained programme of continued improvements at Teesport, which has already delivered a 263% increase in its agribulk productivity since 2016, when PD Ports moved to diversify its bulk handling operations. The Tees Dock bulks quay is now handling more than 3m tonnes of cargo per annum. The improved performance has been driven by investment in electric cranes and grabs with increased lift and cubic capacity. Tees Dock has high‑throughput eco-hoppers capable of loading a wagon in 60 seconds, improved storage and planning systems, fully automated weighbridges and continued workforce training, enabling us to meeting customer demand at every level. The addition of a third Liebherr crane will further support growing volumes of bulk commodities and project cargo, including tandem lift operations linked to large‑scale infrastructure developments, particularly in the offshore and carbon capture sectors in Teesside and beyond. Grant Honzik, business unit director - bulks, said: "The addition of a third electric Liebherr LHM 550 crane significantly strengthens our bulk handling capability and supports growing demand as customers increasingly recognise Tees Dock as a flexible, high‑capacity hub for bulk commodities, project cargo and specialist lifts. "The new grabs allow us to handle cargo more efficiently, increase load and discharge speeds and better tailor our equipment to individual products, opening up opportunities in new and emerging bulk and breakbulk markets. "Combined with the crane's increased lift capacity and tandem lift capability, this investment gives us the flexibility to support everything from high‑volume bulk commodities through to complex project cargo, including large‑scale infrastructure developments across the region." Fully electrified cranes also support PD Ports' sustainability ambitions, contributing towards the company's goal of achieving Net Zero operations by 2040. Frans Calje, chief executive officer at PD Ports, said: "This latest £5m investment underlines PD Ports' long‑term commitment to Teesport and to building a truly world‑class facility for the region. "By continuing to invest in modern, high‑performance infrastructure, we are also strengthening Teesport's role in supporting the offshore sector and playing a leading role in the UK's national decarbonisation ambitions." For more information about PD Ports' bulk handling services at Teesport, contact Commercial Director Michael Parker at michael.parker@pdports.co.uk The Tees Dock bulks quay handles a wide range of dry bulk cargo including agribulks, aggregates, steel, recycled metals, biomass and construction materials, as well as offshore projects and complex and heavy project cargo. About PD Ports • PD Ports is one of the UK's major port groups, operating across 11 locations nationwide including Teesport and Hartlepool in the north, a cluster of sites on and around the River Humber, and Felixstowe, Thames and the Isle of Wight in the south. • PD Ports is the Statutory Harbour Authority for the River Tees, with a jurisdiction of 12 miles to the Tees estuary with legal responsibility to ensure safe navigation for all vessels and maintenance of the river. Teesport • Handling both unitised and bulk products at Teesport, we also offer portcentric logistics, contract logistics, warehousing, freight forwarding services, shipping services and stevedoring across our portfolio. • Employing more than 1,400 people, PD Ports is the largest private employer in Teesside and generates 10% of the region's total GVA. • More than 22,000 jobs supported in the wider supply chain • The UK's northern gateway to global trade, Teesport is of national strategic significance, providing businesses and exporters across the UK with essential access to international markets. • As the only major net exporting port in England, Teesport is central to boosting UK exports and achieving Global Britain. • In the last 10 years, PD Ports has attracted more than £1bn of private investment to the Tees Valley, backed by long-term contracts, creating over 2,500 high quality, direct jobs. People and skills • Teesport is the UK's number one port operator for supporting young people. • Teesport has a strong track record on safety, training and skills, including three consecutive years holding RoSPA gold certification. • Staff networks allow like-minded people to share support and experiences, including a women's network, an LGBTQI+ network and a neurodivergent network. • PD Ports are co-founders of High Tide Foundation, which runs dedicated programs aimed at raising aspirations and increasing career prospects for 11-19 year olds across Teesside. • We also operate our own dedicated primary school maritime engagement program, Teesport Explorers, welcoming year 5 and 6 pupils to the port for tours and the chance to meet people across a wide range of career roles. Sustainability • PD Ports has a public commitment to be the UK's most sustainable port company, with the aim reaching Net Zero operations by 2040. • Our Sustainability Strategy sets out our ambitious decarbonisations targets, our work to support the communities we serve and our commitment to good governance - www.pdports.co.uk/sustainability • Multi-million pound investment in plant and infrastructure to support our decarbonisation aims including the £23m Emerald Duchess dredger, which runs on sustainable fuels, and £16m on three Liebherr electric hydraulic bulks handling cranes. • Teesport Intermodal Rail Terminal supports greener supply chains, with capacity to remove 85,000 trucks off the road annually and significantly reduce carbon emissions. • Winners of the British Ports Association Port Sustainability Award in 2024. PD Ports press release 
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