“The work we’re doing here is transforming our region, driving growth, and positioning us at the forefront of the clean energy sector.”
The Teesworks site has celebrated a significant milestone as the first operational ship docked at the newly constructed Steel River Quay.
Prysmian’s cable-laying vessel, the Leonardo Da Vinci, became the inaugural ship to use the quay after sailing down the River Tees to complete mobilisation work before setting off on its next mission.
This event marks the beginning of operations at the £114 million quay, which is set to support up to 140 vessel journeys each year, playing a crucial role in the region’s burgeoning offshore wind energy projects. The strategic location on the River Tees positions Teesworks as a vital hub for new energy technology and manufacturing in the UK.
“We are witnessing the start of a new chapter for Teesworks,” said Ben Houchen, the Conservative Tees Valley Mayor. “The work we’re doing here is transforming our region, driving growth, and positioning us at the forefront of the clean energy sector.”
The newly constructed Steel River Quay will play a crucial role in supporting SeAH Wind’s £850 million monopile manufacturing facility, currently under construction just to the south of the quay.
Teesworks CEO Martin Corney remarked: “This is a significant milestone for the Teesworks site. The strategic location of the Steel River Quay, with direct access to the North Sea, provides unmatched connectivity for offshore wind energy projects and ongoing developments at Teesworks.
“Since the completion of construction, global companies have shown great interest in our quay. Now that it is operational, we are set to advance negotiations for additional projects.”
Garry O’Malley, Operations Director at Teesworks, added: “The new deep-water quay has been specifically designed to offer load-out and marshalling facilities for the next generation of large installation vessels in the offshore wind sector.
“With extensive storage facilities and proximity to planned wind farms, we are ideally positioned to become a hub for the region’s renewable energy sector.”
The quay’s deep-water capabilities and vast storage capacity provide SeAH with direct access to transport monopiles to offshore wind farms in the North Sea. It also facilitates the import of components and raw materials into SeAH’s plant and the wider Teesworks site for use in the manufacturing process.
Prysmian, a global leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, operates several advanced cable installation vessels, including the Leonardo Da Vinci, which was the first vessel to dock at the quay.
Peter Watson from Prysmian commented: “We’re delighted to have completed the inaugural docking at the Steel River Quay. Berthing this 171-metre vessel demonstrates the impressive deep-water capability of the site.
“We are proud to be part of this transformative project and to be the first to utilise this state-of-the-art facility.”
The deep-water quay, constructed over two years by UK contractor GRAHAM using 30,000 tonnes of concrete, offers a minimum depth of 13.6 metres for vessels at berth. With a length of 450 metres, the quay can comfortably accommodate two of the largest offshore wind installation vessels simultaneously.
Plans are currently under consideration for phase 2 of the Steel River Quay, which could extend the quay by up to 300 metres, depending on demand from potential occupiers and users.
The successful docking of the Leonardo Da Vinci is just the beginning of what promises to be a transformative journey for Teesworks and the wider community, as the site continues to develop into a key player in the global energy market.
