AV Dawson, owner and operator of Port of Middlesbrough, has signed a long-term partnership with Italian offshore cable manufacturer, Prysmian.
The Italian firm, which has been a tenant at Port of Middlesbrough for several years, has signed a 10-year agreement, cementing a long-term partnership, in preparation for its future growth.
Prysmian, which is a world leader in the manufacture and installation of subsea and offshore wind cables, first started using Port of Middlesbrough ten years ago. At that time, operations on site were little more than a container or two of equipment being held in storage. Over the years, as the offshore wind industry has exploded and Prysmian has secured more contracts, Port of Middlesbrough has become central to the company’s operations and now acts as its northern European marine base.
With further growth anticipated, Prysmian has secured additional warehousing and office space at the port as part of the new partnership deal. This will support further expansion, accommodating new teams and new jobs in the region.
Charlie Nettle, AV Dawson’s group managing director said:
“We have great relationships with the Prysmian team and a real partnership approach between us – we are thrilled that Prysmian wants to continue to call Port of Middlesbrough its home.
“This new agreement is hugely positive news, not only for Teesside but for the whole of Northeast England’s offshore wind sector. It really puts Port of Middlesbrough and the wider region on the map.
“The region has become a hot spot for offshore wind, and it will only get busier as businesses, and the world, continues on the journey to net-zero.”
Prysmian is also investing in new vessels to support this growth trajectory. These vessels will be regular callers at Port of Middlesbrough, collecting offshore wind cable and equipment, to mobilise for offshore wind projects all over the world.
To support Prysmian’s growth ambitions, AV Dawson has put significant investment into its port and quayside facilities so it can accommodate these new vessels.
Charlie continued:
“We were really excited to prepare for the arrival of the Leonardo Da Vinci (LDV). She is the largest cable-laying vessel of her type, in the world, so we needed to ensure we had the capacity on our berths to accommodate her. This involved dredging wider berth pockets as the LDV is five metres wider than any of our other customers’ vessels. Thankfully, the Monna Lisa is the sister ship to the LDV, so the dimensions of the vessel are the same. However, Prysmian and some of our other customers are now enquiring about shore power to support their net-zero ambitions, so that is the next significant investment to plan for.”
Charlie added:
“Seeing these huge vessels coming into our port is also fantastic for our colleagues and the local community to witness. It suddenly makes the river and all the activity happening on it, much more visible for people. I feel this increases a sense of pride and progress among people and may also inspire some young people into a career in the shipping and logistics industry.”
Peter Watson, responsible for the overall management of Prysmian’s marine base said:
“Having a base in Northeast England is imperative to the success of the many projects we are delivering right now and the ones we can see coming down the pipeline.
“Port of Middlesbrough is strategically positioned, has well-connected transport links and offers state-of-the-art facilities, making it an ideal place to expand our current operations. However, our decision to be here is as much about the working relationship we have. Everyone knows what we’re trying to achieve and just works brilliantly together to make it happen.
“This contract cements our commitment to the port and the town, as we look forward to the future and the exciting developments that are coming over the next few years.”