Port of South LouisianaSailors SocietyCimbriaGeneva DryPort of StocktonTBA Group
  • Port of South Louisiana
  • TBA Group
  • Vigan
  • Sailors Society
  • TMS Awards 2023
  • Bühler GmbH

Home win for the River Tees

Home win for the River Tees

(Posted on 17/03/21)

Three Teesside family firms have worked together to secure a post Brexit shipping deal, keeping business in the region and supporting the growth of Middlesbrough’s port facilities.

Shipping companies, Casper Shipping and Cockfield Knight, along with AV Dawson, owner and operator of Port of Middlesbrough, have collaborated to provide a complete local supply chain solution to help a major UK steel stockholder import steel into Teesside.

Casper Shipping secured a vessel on a long-term charter to deliver a broader, more competitive logistics offering to its clients. Cockfield Knight, who were looking to broker a vessel for their customer, to import steel pipes from Cyprus to Tees, decided to ‘buy-local’, selecting Casper Shipping’s vessel for the job. Cockfield Knight also acted as port agent, coordinating the safe arrival of the vessel at AV Dawson’s Port of Middlesbrough.

Gary Dawson, AV Dawson’s managing director said: “This is a great example of not only the strength of the offering of the River Tees’ maritime sector but also the appetite for collaboration among Teesside businesses. Using local operators rather than national chains keeps work in the region, supporting local jobs and the regional economy.

“This particular cargo which has been imported for Cleveland Steel & Tubes, will be used within the UK construction sector - which like the shipping and logistics sector, seems to have managed to continue to keep busy despite the challenges of Covid.

“A recent cargo we imported for this same customer will actually be staying at our port for a very long time - not because of any Brexit delays but because it will be utilised within the rede-velopment of our quayside. The steel pipes will be used for piling on one of our berths at Port of Middlesbrough to support the reconstruction and strengthening of the quay wall - so they literal-ly will be supporting the future growth of our port.”

Over the last couple of years, both Cockfield Knight and Casper Shipping have seen a step in-crease in demand for their services. Ship brokering has increased dramatically for Cockfield Knight and Casper Shipping now has seven ships on charter.

Michael Shakesheff, managing director of Casper Shipping said: “We started our chartering business, Casper Chartering a few years ago as part of strategy and expansion plans as we ap-proach our 150th anniversary in 2022. We are one of very few cargo vessel operators actually based in the UK. With the major infrastructure developments planned for Teesside we feel there is a real opportunity for us to provide a competitive solution and as a result, keep our ships very busy just on the River Tees. That would be a positive result as it would illustrate how Teesside is really moving forward.

Frans Calje, CEO of PD Ports, Statutory Harbour Authority of the River Tees, said: “With over 270 years between them and an unwavering commitment to the region, these three family business-es illustrate the innovation, resilience and ambition we have within the businesses that operate on the River Tees but also more widely in the region.”

Latest News

New customs declaration process launched in Belgium

(Posted on 07/05/25)

Inbound Release Platform (IRP) has been operating since 1 April 2025. This innovative solution, which... Read more


Kale to develop Oman’s national port communication system

(Posted on 07/05/25)

Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale), along with its local partner Novel Muscat, has been awarded the contract... Read more


Estonian-German ports strengthen bilateral relations

(Posted on 01/05/25)

Participants at the first German-Estonian Port Days, have demonstrated the impressive way in which bilateral... Read more


Teesport Offshore Gateway - a multi-million pound investment in the River Tees

(Posted on 29/04/25)

One of the UK’s major port groups, PD Ports has announced its ambition to develop one of the UK... Read more


Port of Amsterdam achieves CO? reduction target

(Posted on 28/04/25)

Port of Amsterdam has achieved its CO? reduction target. The Port of Amsterdam aimed to reduce its corporate... Read more


NSBT celebrates launch of new third berth in Freetown

(Posted on 22/04/25)

Nectar Sierra Leone Bulk Terminal (NSBT) is celebrating the operational launch of a new third berth... Read more


Greenhouse gas emissions in port of Rotterdam down by 8%

(Posted on 17/04/25)

Greenhouse gas emissions at companies in the port decreased by 1.7 Mton (8%) in 2024 compared to 2023... Read more


Raw materials delivered to British Steel through Immingham

(Posted on 15/04/25)

Following the UK government’s passing of an emergency law to take control of British Steel, vital... Read more


Rotterdam takes important step in making shipping more sustainable

(Posted on 15/04/25)

Trammo, OCI and James Fisher Fendercare have successfully conducted an ammonia bunkering pilot between... Read more


Bulgarian port’s first order for new Konecranes Gottwald MHCs

(Posted on 03/04/25)

BMF Port Burgas AD (BMF), one of Bulgaria’s largest port operators, has ordered two Generation... Read more


ViganTelestackTMS Awards 2023Van AalstBühler GmbH
  • Telestack
  • Van Aalst
  • Port of Stockton
  • Cimbria

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping