Major investment at

Teesport

forwardLinkThe company news magazine of PD Ports

Issue 6 // July 2010

page 4

page 2New facesNew employees join the PD Ports team

page 6Let’s talk rubbishPD Logistics Recycling Services raises its profile

page 10Under the spotlightLynsey Pickering sheds light on business continuity management

page 2

Jan Loland IT development manager

PD Ports has appointed Jan Christian Loland as development manager within its busy IT department, based at Lackenby House, Teesport.

Jan’s role includes overseeing projects relating to the Group’s business integration systems, the expansion of Teesport Container Terminal 2, as well as general IT improvements and further development.

Prior to joining PD Ports, Norwegian-born Jan worked as Group ERP manager for Hertel Holding. During his time with Hertel, Jan was responsible for a worldwide implementation of an ERP system and the day to day management of an application support department.

Jan also served as a sergeant in the Norwegian army, commanding a squad of soldiers on yearly training exercises. He was honourably discharged when moving to the UK.

Lynsey PickeringBusiness continuity manager

Lynsey Pickering has joined PD Ports as business continuity manager at Teesport.

Based at Teesport, within the harbour master’s offices, Lynsey

is responsible for finalising the development of a robust system of plans, policies and procedures which, in the case of a disruption to the business, will ensure PD Ports is able to resume normal operations as quickly as possible and deliver continued excellence of service to its many customers at Teesport.

Lynsey has achieved a number of qualifications relating to business continuity management, including a Level 7 Diploma in Business Continuity Management from Coventry University. Lynsey is also a member of the Chartered Management Institute and the Institute for Learning and is currently studying Strategic Management & Leadership at Teesside University.

Before joining the team at PD Ports, Lynsey was employed by Sembcorp Utilities as business continuity project manager. Prior to that Lynsey worked for nearly 20 years for British Airways, as a stewardess, business manager and also as part of the emergency response team.

Derek Emerson IT systems engineer

Derek Emerson has joined PD Ports as IT systems engineer, based at Lackenby House, Teesport.

In his role, Derek is responsible for providing support to PD Ports’ staff in all aspects of IT across the Group.

Before he joined PD Ports, Derek worked on a number of contract projects for companies which include Sunderland - based Apollo Medical Systems and Middlesbrough PCT where he was employed as an IT field service engineer providing support for hospitals and doctors surgeries.

Laura Russell Apprentice estates assistant

Laura Russell has joined PD Ports as an apprentice estates assistant, based at Queen’s Square headquarters, Middlesbrough.

In her role, Laura is responsible for providing administrative support

to the estates department. Laura will be using her skills and knowledge of the department and its key processes to achieve an NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration.

Before joining the team at PD Ports, Laura studied at Middlesbrough College, where she achieved a BTEC National Diploma with distinction in Children’s Care, Learning and Development.

Naeem Feroz IT systems engineer

Naeem Feroz has joined PD Ports as systems engineer within the IT department, based at Lackenby House, Teesport.

In his role, Naeem is assisting with the support and development of

PD Ports’ technical infrastructure and business systems. This includes providing user support and assistance for desktop equipment and desktop applications, whilst also performing regular routine maintenance procedures.

Prior to joining PD Ports, Naeem worked as a support engineer for nine years with EDS.

welcomeaboard

The final countdown

Less than 100 days

before the Tall Ships sail into Hartlepool// page 9

Let’s talk rubbish

PD Logistics Recycling

Services raises its profile in the waste management sector// page 6

Major investment at Teesport

PD Ports announces

investment in container handling facilities to meet demand // page 4

Issue 6 // July 2010

Inside this issue:

Under the spotlight

Lynsey Pickering

sheds light on business continuity management // page 10

Produced byKirsten Potter MScPR & communications manager

For contributions, or to be featured in the next issue of Forward Link, please contact Kirsten Potter.

PD Ports 17-27 Queen’s SquareMiddlesbroughTS2 1AHTel: +44 (0)1642 877 026Email: kirsten.potter@pdports.co.uk

page 3

Introduction byDavid Robinsongroup ceo, PD Ports

forwardLinkWelcome to

Forward Link FEATURE:

Welcome to the latest edition of Forward Link. In the last issue we reported on the significant growth in our container volumes at Teesport, with a 51 percent growth in the last six months of 2009. PD Ports out-performed the market place in what was an incredibly turbulent year for businesses globally. This growth in container volumes has further increased in the first quarter of 2010, with a 68 percent increase in volumes compared to the same period in 2009. As a result of this continued growth, I am delighted to announce that we will shortly commence work on the expansion of Teesport’s container handling facilities to meet demand.The expansion of the container handling facilities at Teesport signifies major growth opportunities and long term investment in our unitised business. This growth coincides with the highly successful portcentric logistics strategy in recent years, which has attracted leading retailers ASDA and Tesco, as well as Taylors of Harrogate. We have also attracted a number of new container services to Teesport over the last eighteen months, including BG Freight, Unifeeder, Feederlink and Samskip. You can read more about our expansion plans on page 4.

Despite the growth in container activity at Teesport, the Group has suffered trading difficulties since the economic downturn in its non unitised operations across all locations. Since December 2006 our annual tonnage has dropped from almost 54M tonnes to just under 40M tonnes - a 26 percent drop in volume. This now ranks Teesport fourth amongst the top UK ports. This has been compounded by the loss of Corus Teesside Cast Products, which continues to have a significant adverse impact on our business. PD Ports’ senior management is continuing its discussions with Corus to ensure that we have clear visibility on our future relationship.

We are aware from recent announcements that Corus is in discussions to sell Teesside Cast Products, but it is too early to speculate on the potential consequences of this latest news.

Elsewhere in the business, PD Logistics has won the North Lincolnshire Health and Safety Group award for the second year running, whilst PD Ports has been crowned as ASDA’s most outstanding service carrier of the year for 2009, for the Logical Link service. To find out more see page 5.

PD Logistics Recycling Services has recently introduced a food waste collection service at its Sefton recycling facility. Full details can be found on page 6.

If you have a story that you would like to see featured in Forward Link, please get in touch. I hope you find our current company news an enjoyable read.

David Robinsongroup ceo, PD Ports

A Brookfield Ports Company

page 4

Teesport expansionCOVER STORY //

page 4

PD Ports has announced that it will channel significant investment into the first phase of expansion plans at Teesport, which will potentially involve some £29M of total investment.

Frans Calje, PD Ports’ md unitised, said: “I am delighted to announce that we will shortly commence work on the expansion of our container handling facilities at Teesport, which signifies a long term investment in our unitised business, on the back of major growth opportunities. This will further improve performance and productivity for the port’s growing number of customers.

“This is the first phase of expanding Teesport’s container terminal capacity to 450,000 TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units), from its current capacity of 235,000 TEU - an investment of £16.7M. Subsequent phases will be investigated subject to volume growth and market stability with the total project potentially involving some £29M. The port’s overall strategy is to expand port wide capacity, including RoRo traffic, to 750,000 TEU, which will position Teesport as a major player in the container market.

“In the first quarter of 2010 we have achieved significant success at our Teesport container terminals, with an incredible growth of over 68 percent in volume compared to the first quarter of 2009: from 35,000 to 58,700 TEU. PD Ports has, yet again, out-performed the market place in what is still a turbulent time for businesses globally.”

The first phase, which is expected to commence in November and last approximately 10 months, will focus on the reconfiguring of the existing container terminal layout, including all associated civil works and installation of new rubber tyre gantry cranes. This will be supported by the implementation of a sophisticated terminal management system.

Once fully complete, it is estimated some 50 new jobs will be created within the terminal together with a further 200 new jobs to support the overall supply chain. This will complement the 1,300 jobs that have been directly created over the past five years as a result of portcentric logistics operations in and around the port.

The expansion project is an important component of the business’ strategy to diversify its service offering into new markets, including portcentric logistics and renewable power.

“The Teesport expansion initiative highlights the unique nature of this facility, its strong market position as one of the UK’s top ports and its considerable growth opportunities in existing and new markets,” commented Sam Pollock, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Infrastructure, owner of PD Ports.

PD Ports’ recent growth in container volumes at its Teesport container terminals coincides with 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.

Since opening an import centre at Teesport in 2006 to serve its Northern UK markets, ASDA estimates it has saved over 8M road miles and significantly reduced its CO2 emissions. Taylors of Harrogate also states that by shipping its products direct to Teesport and storing them on-site prior to their final short leg journey to Harrogate, the business will significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

PD Ports has also attracted a number of new container services to Teesport over the last eighteen months, including BG Freight, Samskip, Feederlink and Unifeeder, carrying boxes for all major global container lines. l

Frans Caljemd unitised

“This is the first

phase of expanding

Teesport’s container

terminal capacity to

450,000 TEU, from

its current capacity

of 235,000 TEU -

an investment of

£16.7M.”

page 5

PD Ports has been crowned as ASDA’s most outstanding service carrier of the year for 2009, at its annual National Carrier of the Year awards ceremony.

The award was won by PD Ports for its Logical Link service – a coastal shipping service offering a next day connection between Felixstowe and Teesport, three days per week.

ASDA has used the Logical Link service since it launched in January 2009, to ship goods destined for its northern markets into Teesport, where the retailer operates a 360,000ft distribution centre.

In its first year of operation, the Logical Link service reached its goal of reducing operational costs for customers and minimising the adverse impact that road transport has on the environment.

Alex Linton, ASDA’s supply chain operations manager, commented: “PD Ports’ innovation in the development of the Logical Link concept and the subsequent efficiency in the management of the service, were key factors in winning this award.

“The continued improvement and solid performance in PD Ports’ transport business, PD Logistics, provided a further rationale for

judging the company to merit this award.”

On the same night, the North Lincolnshire Health & Safety Group presented PD Logistics with its annual Health & Safety award, recognising the Company’s commitment to the highest levels of health and safety for the second year running.

The main award was presented to Jim French, director and general manager for PD Logistics at the awards ceremony, which was held at Wortley House Hotel, Scunthorpe on 26 February 2010.

The judging panel awarded PD Logistics the annual health and safety title based on the Company’s continued commitment to improving competence levels and raising its health and safety standards over the past twelve months.

Maria Sanderson, President of the North Lincolnshire Health & Safety Group, said during her speech: “PD Logistics’ participation and that of its employees in continued safety improvements and the quality of their award entry made them outright winners.” l

Double award win

The PD Logistics team collect the Health & Safety award for the second year

running

ASDA’s National Carrier of the Year awards ceremony

page 6

forwardLinkF E A T U R E

Building aBuilding aBuilding alow carbon

PD Logistics Recycling Services has recently re-designed its kerbside collection vehicles at its Sefton recycling facility to allow for the collection of food waste, as well as the traditional products such as cardboard, glass, metals, paper, plastics and textiles.

“We are committed to expanding and upgrading the recycling services we offer to local authorities,” says Jerry Hopkinson, md bulks, ports and logistics for PD Ports. “We have adapted the vehicles to add extra storage space, fitted sealed containers and introduced a rigorous hygiene and cleaning protocol. All of our staff undertook further training to ensure the waste food collection service was successfully implemented,” explains Mr Hopkinson. Working across North Lincolnshire and the Sefton region in Merseyside, PD Logistics Recycling Services - part of the PD Ports Group - services more than 160,000 households through kerbside collections. During these kerbside collections, the team allocates the waste into specific compartments on the collection vehicles and by doing so, eases the sorting process at the waste transfer station. And because the recycling team maintains a direct relationship with the wider PD Ports Group, all elements of the supply chain, from kerbside collection to onward global shipment, can be handled within the business.

Mark GaughanPD Logistics’ contract manager

for Recycling Services

“All elements of the

supply chain, from

kerbside collection

to onward global

shipment, can be

handled within the

Group.”

page 7

low carbonlow carbonlow carbonUK“This ensures the customer receives a complete quality

service and a fully traceable supply chain for all of the recycled products,” concludes Mr Hopkinson. PD Logistics Recycling Services also operates a four-day week collection service, to cut out the disruption to the cycle caused by Bank Holidays and to ensure training is built into the Monday schedule of all 120 staff. Come and meet the team The PD Logistics Recycling Services team will be exhibiting at Renewable UK, 29-30 June in Liverpool. (Stand 90). l

Core activities include:

• Kerbside household collections

• Transport of recyclates

• Operation of materials handling facility

• Commercial waste handling and disposal

• Industrial waste handling and disposal

• Containerisation of recyclates and waste products

• Onward global shipment.

Jerry Hopkinsonmd, bulks ports and logistics,

PD Ports

“The announcement of a £60m infrastructure package for ports is good news for the UK.”

Making sure wind opportunities don’t blow awayIn March, PD Ports played host to Tom McGhie, one of the Mail on Sunday’s most senior journalists, at the port of Hartlepool. The purpose of the visit, which was organised by regional development agency ONE North East, was to demonstrate what is happening in the region in terms of offshore wind energy activities.

The visit included a tour of the port facilities and was supported by visits to JDR Cables, one of the leading players in the provision of subsea power cables and Heerema, which has successfully serviced offshore related industries from Hartlepool for over 15 years.

On the day of the visit, the Government announced a £60M infrastructure package for ports in the UK, which are providing offshore support services to wind energy manufacturers.

Commenting on the announcement, Jerry Hopkinson, PD Ports’ md bulks, ports & logistics, said:

“A £60m infrastructure package for ports is good news for the UK and will help create and sustain jobs, as well as boosting business development. But, in addition to any infrastructure package, we also need to see the speeding up of our often slow planning procedures, which mean the region can lose manufacturing wind turbines and other alternative energy products to places like Germany, where planning systems are more much more responsive.”

“At Hartlepool we have the potential to further support the requirements of the wind energy sector – including deepwater coastal berths, lock-free access and extensive land banks for storage, fabrication and load out. Given the investment already made at Hartlepool docks, both supporting Heerema and JDR Cables, PD Ports believes a share of any funding made available would further strengthen our ability to attract more inward investment into the North East, in particular into Hartlepool.

page 8

“PD Ports, along with other organisations in the North East who want to promote their credentials in emerging sectors such as green energy and renewable power, must continue to champion the region and create demand.”

He added: “While we are keen to see more detail of the package, this is a positive step that will help speed the development of a UK-based offshore wind industry.”

Further good news is that the Dogger Bank zone is included in the latest round of awards for wind energy developments. PD Ports is keen to see offshore support services for Dogger Bank created in the North East, particularly at Hartlepool.

Unlike many other ports, Hartlepool has plenty of land for development, which can be made available for supply bases, storage and fabrication and is served by adjacent berths. Hartlepool also offers open access to the North Sea.

“In the longer term, we hope to develop Hartlepool as a centre of excellence for the offshore support sector. In addition to land, we have the skilled personnel in the engineering industry to provide high quality offshore support services, enabling us to deliver efficient and flexible solutions for customers,” concluded Mr Hopkinson. l

Hopefully you are already aware that in

August 2010, Hartlepool will be hosting the

famous Tall Ships race. PD Ports is playing a

key role with partners, Hartlepool Borough

Council and the Hartlepool Marina, in

preparing to receive the one million visitors

and 60 plus ships with their 3,000 crew

members.

The event’s entertainment is expected to win the crowds and the latest wave of music acts has now been announced. Indie-rock band Doves has been confirmed as headliners on the entertainment stage, sponsored by Real Radio, on Monday 9 August. Seth Lakeman and The Unthanks will be co-headlining on Saturday 7 August in a folk, blues and roots theme day.

Tall Ships final countdown

Multimodal 2010

The latest bands will be joining the likes of Ocean Colour Scene and Echo and the Bunnymen who were announced earlier this year.

The Tall Ships Race 2010 is this year’s largest free event in the UK and is set to attract more than one million visitors from Saturday 7 – Tuesday 10 August.

Make sure you don’t miss out! To find out more about this fabulous event visit www.hartlepooltallships2010.com l

PD Ports has recently attended one of the industry’s biggest and most high profile exhibitions of the year. Multimodal 2010, which ran from Tuesday 27 April to Thursday 29 April, attracted a host of shippers and manufacturers to Birmingham’s NEC.

Multimodal is the UK’s only event dedicated to helping maximise the efficiency of freight transport, logistics, and supply chain management procedures.

Helene Lyall, PD Ports’ sales and marketing manager, further raised the port’s profile in portcentric logistics at the event when she took part in a panel debate, which focussed on how ‘collaboration’ is the key to value creation in supply chain management.

With the industry’s press out in force, Multimodal was also an excellent platform for PD Ports’ ceo, David Robinson, to promote the business’ long term container growth

strategy, as well as discussing offshore and renewable opportunities for the North East.

2010 is the third year that PD Ports has exhibited at Multimodal and it continues to be a firm fixture in the port’s events calendar.

Exhibitors ranged from ports, shipping lines, rail operators, airlines, road hauliers, and logistics providers through to equipment suppliers, technical and IT support providers, academic institutions, trade associations and government bodies. Visitors were drawn from the ranks of major shippers, retailers and industry. l

page 9

page 10

Over the coming months, recently appointed business continuity manager, Lynsey Pickering will be addressing the business continuity needs at Teesport.

Read on to hear Lynsey’s quick fire round of questions about Business Continuity Management (BCM) and how it can bring real benefits to businesses.

Name & job titleMy name is Lynsey Pickering and I am the newly appointed business continuity manager for PD Ports at Teesport.

Where are you based?I am based at Teesport (harbour master’s offices), which is in the middle of the extremely busy Teesport operations.

What is business continuity?Business continuity is an activity performed by an organisation to ensure that critical business functions will be available to customers, suppliers, regulators, and other stakeholders that must have access to those functions.

Business continuity is not something implemented at the time of a disaster; business continuity refers to those activities performed daily to maintain service, consistency, and recoverability.

The importance of business continuity is now globally recognised and in 2007 a British Standard was launched (BS25999 -2) recognising organisations’ effective management of this process.

Why does PD Ports need to implement business continuity into its organisation?Implementing BCM can bring real benefits to PD Ports. Not only does it protect the long term survivability of the business, it also meets the requirements of regulators, customers and the law.

Competitive advantageIf PD Ports is able to demonstrate to potential customers that it has proven plans to continue to supply critical business functions in the face of disruption and is in compliance with BS25999, it can attract new customers as well as providing a positive reason to renew existing contracts.

Financial gains and benefitsBy reducing risks or eliminating them, PD Ports becomes more resilient and more cost effective. Insurers look favourably upon organisations that have robust continuity plans in place and this can affect the level of cover offered, the amount of excess paid, or reduce the premiums levied.

ReputationOne of PD Ports’ most valuable assets is its reputation. This takes years to build up but moments to destroy. Elements of BCM are designed to ensure that every effort is made to protect brand reputation and image throughout and beyond a period of disruption.

What does it mean to me? BCM involves greater staff engagement. By listening to the people who actually do the job it is possible to eliminate the lower levels of operational risk that can disrupt the organisation.

PD Ports has eight core values: • Safety first • Customer focussed • World/best in class • Punching above our weight • Enjoyable to work in • Equal opportunities• Prepared to invest • Environmental interests.

By implementing a BCM strategy, PD Ports is demonstrating its core values to all staff and stakeholders.

To find out more: Speak to Lynsey Pickering, business continuity manager on 01642 877221 and look on the intranet for further updates. l

Lynsey Pickering shines the spotlight on business continuity management

health & safetyat PD Ports

SA

FE

TY

IS N

O A

CC

IDE

NT

!

page 11

PD Ports is currently working with Ports Skills & Safety Ltd (PSS), the industry body concerned with training and safety in the UK ports industry, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to create new ports industry safety guidance documents, which are expected to replace the Safety in Docks Regulations 1988 (SID).

The Ports Guidance Project is a joint venture with the ports industry and the HSE. The project seeks to identify good practice for key operational activities in marine ports, to assist in the development of safety procedures and safe systems of work.

The project is designed to provide standardised practical guidance based on industry experience and existing good practice, making reference where applicable to other industry related organisations such as the HSE, ILO Health & Safety in Ports, and British and European Standards.

SID is now over twenty years old and consequently has become out dated and in many cases superseded by other more recent legislation. Some time ago the HSE made the decision that they would not be updating SID and that their policy going forward would be to work with the industry to help them produce their own sector specific guidance.

PD Ports’ Health and Safety managers, John Simm and David Jones, represent PD Ports as members of the guidance project team along with other safety professionals representing other PSS member ports and representatives from the HSE.

Ports Industry Guidance Project

The project team is working together to produce the guidance documents, taking into account any input from trades unions and ports’ operational and engineering management teams, all of whom have all been given the opportunity to comment at the draft stage of each topic.

The project team aims to have the first raft of guidance documents ready for publication by the end of September 2010 and in time for a joint industry and HSE launch sometime in October 2010.

Currently the following documents are available on the PSS web site for comments:• General cargo handling• Mooring• Dry bulk cargo• Timber handling• Lighting in docks.

John and David have done first class work in representing not only PD Ports and everyone working here, but also the wider UK ports industry, and both have played lead roles in delivering best standards across a wide range of activities to the benefit of everyone working in the industry. l

Russ McCalliongroup hr director

SAFETY SUGGESTION SCHEME RESULTS

Russ McCalliongroup hr director

Logistics Winner: Mark Brown – Billingham Suggestion: to install a bell outside of a warehouse so that lorry drivers can signal if they are waiting to be loaded. This prevents drivers wander-ing into the warehouse looking for someone to load them.

Runners up:Dean Brown – Felixstowe Suggestion: to introduce removable wheel stops that can be used on various length trailers.James Hawker – Felixstowe Suggestion: due to the increased number of containers, introduce stack-ing pins so that they can be stacked on top of each other safely.Keith Hackling – Felixstowe Suggestion: introduce safety barriers at pedestrian entrances/exits to warehouses to help protect them from moving vehicles.

Port ServicesWinner: Robert Binnington – Howden Suggestion: the use of cable ties to hold the four loops on bulk bags together so that they can be picked up by fork lift truck without anybody having to climb to do this manually.

TeesportMally O’Sullivan – Teesport Suggestion: Improved isolator/stop button that was initially for applica-tion to a crane spreader but proved so useful it has been implemented

within the entire crane. This suggestion has now been put into place on all container cranes and spreaders at Teesport. Joe Mullins – HartlepoolSuggestions: The introduction of a ‘coat hanger’ was suggested for ships loading pipes. Pipe lifting equipment hangs from a beam, and when empty can come into contact with ships hatches as it leaves the ship, increasing the risk of getting trapped. Hanging the pipe hooks (coat hanger) on the beam takes away this risk, whilst also reducing the risk to workers from swaying equipment.

Well done to you all for helping to provide a safer working environment throughout PD Ports.

page 11

James Hawker, Dean

Brown, Keith Hackling

Mally O’SullivanRobert Binnington receiving his award

page 12

PD Ports has recently celebrated achieving more than 1,000 accident free days within its engineering teams at Teesport and Hartlepool.

In recognition of this achievement, PD Ports has donated £1,000 to the Redcar Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI).

news in brief...

Russ McCallion, PD Ports’ group human resources director, said: “We are pleased to have achieved this health and safety milestone at Teesport. Safety is paramount across our business and the health and safety of all our staff and contractors remains number one on our list of priorities.

“The RNLI voluntary crew provide a vital life saving service and we are pleased to be able to contribute to its ongoing success at Redcar.” l

PD Ports offers a grand donation to Redcar RNLI

PD Ports is helping Immingham high street blossom by providing financial support for the town’s Immingham in Bloom scheme.

Immingham in Bloom is a voluntary organisation consisting of residents and local businesses and is supported by councils in Immingham and North East Lincolnshire.

The aim of the Group is to help restore civic pride in Immingham by numerous planting schemes in public areas and asking homeowners and businesses to spruce up the front of their properties. In addition, the Group has committed to putting hanging baskets complete with flowers on each of the 200 lamp posts throughout the main high street in Immingham.

The Immingham in Bloom team has sought financial assistance for individual baskets. In support of the scheme and as a key local business, PD Ports has agreed to sponsor one of the baskets. l

Bloominglovely!

Over the rainbow

From Tuesday 29 June to Wednesday 30 June, PD Logistics Recycling Services will be exhibiting at the Renewable UK event in Liverpool. l

On Wednesday 30 June, PD Ports will host an event to unveil approved first phase expansion plans for Teesport. The event will be held at

Middlesbrough Football Club.

On Wednesday 7 July, PD Ports will be attending the UK Warehousing Association annual awards at The Dorchester Hotel in London. PD Ports is proudly sponsoring the training award, which was won by sister company, PD Logistics in 2009. l

From Saturday 7 August to Tuesday 10 August, PD Ports will host the Tall Ships Race at Hartlepool, in conjunction with partners and organisers, Hartlepool Borough Council and Hartlepool Marina.

This is the UK’s largest open air, free event in 2010 and is not to be missed! l

future events

PD Ports, through its staff support scheme has recently contributed to Jessica’s funding to enable her to travel to and from the show in London.

Jessica, 18, was among the final 10

contestants battling it out for the role of Dorothy in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of the Wizard of Oz. Well done Jessica! l

It’s not often a touch of celebrity status and glamour comes to Teesport but Raymond Robinson, dock superintendant at the port’s steel export terminal, has recently seen his daughter, Jessica Robinson, rise to fame on the BBC’s Over the Rainbow series.

Pic courtesy of Gazette Media Group