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The development of the giant SeAH Wind factory on the Teesworks industrial site has reached a major milestone with the arrival of the first vessel to supply raw materials for production trials to the factory.
The Jalonborg, an 89 metre-long supply ship, docked at the recently completed Steel River Quay at the start of this week after sailing from Europe.
The Jalonborg arrived with a 2,578-tonne cargo of steel plates for the SeAH Wind factory just a few hundred yards from the quay on the south bank of the River Tees.
Her cargo took a total of two and a half days to unload at the quay, from where it will be transferred the short distance to the factory rapidly taking shape nearby.
Thanks to its deep-water capabilities and substantial storage facilities, the quay will also perform a crucial role for the SeAH Wind factory’s output hosting the vessels which will eventually transport the giant monopiles out to sea once they are completed.
Peter Ivey, Chief Operations Officer at SeAH Wind, said: “We are thrilled to enter the next phase with the arrival of 2,500 tonnes of raw material, which we witnessed being unloaded from the vessel here at Steel River Quay.
“This marks the first significant material delivery, enabling pre-production trials to commence and reducing risk ahead of commercial launch in 2025.”
A total of around £114m has been invested into creating the Steel River Quay on the back of a loan by the UK Infrastructure Bank. This amount is to be repaid in full by private partners of Teesworks Ltd as activity at the quay ramps up.
Teesworks CEO Martin Corney said: “This marks another important milestone in the development of the Teesworks site and is the perfect example of the importance of the Steel River Quay and its facilities to companies setting up their operations here.
“The deep-water capabilities and substantial storage on offer mean that even the largest vessels are able to berth safely here, bringing in large quantities of components and raw materials and taking away finished products to destinations around the world.
“We are delighted to see this first shipment arrive for the SeAH Wind factory and look forward to seeing many more come in to dock over the coming months and years.”
Bill Draper, General Manager at ASCO, quayside operator at Steel River Quay, said: “It is great to be able to welcome the Jalonborg to Steel River Quay and to demonstrate ASCO's capabilities in vessel hosting and shipment handling.”
James Braid, Divisional Director at Clarksons Offshore and Renewables, which provides integrated logistics management services at Steel River Quay, said: “This may not be the largest shipment, but it is a significant one, and Clarksons is very proud to have provided a turnkey solution for chartering and port agency services.
“This delivery is the first of many bound for Tees, supplying essential raw materials for the offshore wind foundation facility. We are committed to supporting long-term industry growth in the region and advancing offshore wind foundations both locally and internationally.”
Steel River Quay, which took two years to build by UK contractor GRAHAM using 30,000 tonnes of concrete, offers at least 13.6 metres of depth for vessels whilst alongside.
Its 450-metre length means that two of the largest offshore wind installation vessels can be comfortably accommodated at the same time.
Plans are currently being considered for phase 2 of the Steel River Quay which could increase the length of the quay by up to 300 metres, depending on demand from potential occupiers and users.
