Net Zero Hero and Lean Green Machine: PD Ports Puts Sustainability on the Map

PD Ports has marked another step towards achieving its sustainability ambitions by asking local school children to officially name two multi-million pound electric hydraulic cranes at Tees Dock.

The two US$11.62 million bulk handling cranes will now be known as Net Zero Hero and Lean Green Machine, after a competition among the region’s schools to find ‘green’ themed names saw winning entries by pupils from Captain Cook Primary School.

The cranes, powered by renewable electricity and capable of jointly lifting 140 tonnes of project cargo, were named in a ceremony attended by the winning Year 6 pupils – 11-year-olds Georgie and Amy – and PD Ports chief executive Frans Calje and director of bulks operations Grant Honzik.

The naming ceremony also celebrated the launch a new sustainability strategy that aims to make PD Ports, the largest private employer in the Tees Valley, the UK’s most sustainable port company.

The strategy contains a range of long-term commitments to deliver a sustainable future for one of the UK’s largest ports, including achieving Net Zero operations by 2040.

PD Ports has also gone further by enshrining social as well as environmental goals, including a commitment to introduce 3,000 young people to the ports and maritime sector by 2030.

This pioneering approach reflects the unique strength of PD Ports’ commitment to supporting communities across Tees Valley and giving young people new opportunities to thrive and succeed.

Frans Calje said: “It was a delight to welcome the children from Captain Cook Primary School to unveil the brilliant names for the electric cranes on Tees dock’s bulks quay – they were smart and engaged and full of questions about the port and its future.

“That sort of engagement with young people – asking them to think about what future holds and introducing them to potential career opportunities – is what this strategy is all about.

“The strategy is our public commitment as a business to be held accountable for our actions, both now and in the future.

“It contains clear targets for us to achieve, in terms of decarbonisation and biodiversity; our commitment to our local communities and to helping the region’s young people achieve their potential and to acting with best practice and good character in all we do.”

In the last five years, PD Ports has made substantial investments across 11 UK sites, including the purchase of a fleet of electric vehicles and electric-powered handling equipment on the dock. Solar panels have also been installed across our sites and all grid power is supplied from renewable sources.

Other equipment has been converted from diesel power to hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO), which reduces carbon emissions by 90%.

This summer will see the arrival of the Emerald Duchess, a £23m dredger for the Tees, which will be the first of its kind in the UK and run on low-carbon fuel sources.

Frans added: “I set a challenge to the business in 2019 to become the most sustainable port company in the UK. In the last five years we’ve made great strides and put ourselves in a position where we are close to achieving carbon-neutrality across our Tees-based landside operations – the launch pad for rolling out changes across the wider business.

“As a business we are a massive operation, working 24/7, 365 days a year, using huge amounts of energy and with a diverse workforce and supply chain.

“If we commit to making changes for the better, the ripple effect of those actions can be far reaching and have real impact.”

Maritime Minister Mike Kane said: “This Government will build a greener, more dynamic Britain, which tackles the climate crisis head-on. Decarbonising the maritime sector, which will deliver more sustainable jobs, is central to our climate delivery.

“I applaud PD Ports for its ambition to become the UK’s most sustainable port company – and congratulations to the winning pupils at Captain Cook Primary School for their creativity!”

Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, said: “I’d like to congratulate everyone at PD Ports for their fantastic ambition to be the UK’s most sustainable port company and their commitment to reach Net Zero operations by 2040.

“This shows remarkable leadership from one of the UK’s largest ports and will help support Teesside’s ambitions to lead a new green industrial renaissance. I fully support their social and economic goals too and look forward to helping them support 3,000 young people into the ports sector.”