Port of Blyth continues to make mark on region

Posted by The Journal on Nov 25, 09 09:24 AM in News

This year has been an interesting one for the Port of Blyth with highlights including the biggest ever contract for importing wind turbines and the announcement of plans to build a major new biomass power station at one of the port's terminals.

It's no secret that the economic climate in the UK over the past year has been tough, but on the whole Port of Blyth has been riding the storm and the future is looking promising.

Port of Blyth handling turbines for the Crystal Rig Extension II wind farm in Scotland

Port of Blyth handling turbines for the Crystal Rig Extension II wind farm in Scotland

Trade is still strong and no more so than in the renewable energy markets. The port has won and is presently importing 60 Siemen's wind turbines for the Crystal Rig Extension II wind farm near Dunbar in Scotland.

The project started in August and is well under way with a vessel almost every week and the South Harbour terminal is filling rapidly with turbine components up to 47m long and 90 tonnes in weight.

Over recent years the port has established itself as one of the key ports of entry for onshore wind farm development across Northern UK. The port has invested significantly into developing discharge facilities over recent years including stronger quays, bigger cranes and developing an experienced workforce.

With ambitious plans for the UK to develop offshore wind energy on a huge scale, the port is also heavily focused on attracting manufacturing and support infrastructure to the region and hopes to become a central hub for wind energy in the UK.

The announcement of plans for Renewable Energy Systems (RES) to build a major new biomass power station in the port, further demonstrates Blyth's commitment to be a leading renewables port and leading the region to a sustainable future. The scheme costing upwards of £200m will see the development of a 100 MW power station importing up to 0.5 million tonnes of wood chip and pellets.

These two projects represent only a small portion of the port's business with a well developed dry bulk terminal handling hundreds of thousands of tonnes of coal, aggregates, cement, grain and a host of other cargoes. A brisk trade in metals from aluminium to steel and the regular handling of commodities such as timber, panel products, paper and glass also demonstrates the port's diversity, wide range of skills, experienced staff and a willingness to take on new projects.

The establishment of it's new training division, Port Training Services, is a good example of this which has established itself as a major provider of industrial training (plant, HGV etc) across the region in little more than a year.

It has also become a national leader in port- related training with ports as near as Tyne and as far as Southampton turning to PTS to train it's staff. Hot off the presses, this success has now been recognised with Port Training Services picking up the Training Award for 2009 at the prestigious Northumberland Business Awards held recently at Linden Hall.

As a Trust port serving stakeholders which include the local and regional economy, the Port of Blyth is committed to playing its part in the regeneration of the Blyth estuary and wider sub region.

With its ambitious plans and even a possible relocation to the north side of the river some time in the future, it's clear that there will be more interesting years to come.

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