North Tees, United Kingdom

Port Overview

North Tees, part of Teesport, is located on the River Tees in North East England, near Middlesbrough. As the UK’s sixth largest port and among the top ten in Western Europe, it plays a vital role in national and international trade. The port is strategically important due to its deep-water, lock-free access to the North Sea and excellent rail and road connectivity. Teesport handles close to 28 million tonnes of cargo annually, with a container terminal capacity of approximately 500,000 TEU per year.

Facilities & Infrastructure

North Tees, particularly Teesport, features key facilities like the Tees Dock Terminal for bulk cargo and the Steel Export Terminal equipped with gantry cranes. The port also includes Teesport Container Terminals with advanced automation and a railhead. Additionally, there are facilities for roll-on/roll-off operations and dry cargo handling. The port's infrastructure supports a wide range of cargo types, including metals, steel, and agribulk.

Container Terminals

North Tees, part of Teesport in the UK, operates two main container terminals (TCT1 and TCT2) with a total of four berths. The combined annual capacity is approximately 650,000 TEU, with expansion plans aiming for 1.5 million TEU. The terminals feature modern infrastructure, including semi-automated systems and advanced terminal operating software. PD Ports is the primary operator, handling major shipping lines and offering efficient multimodal connections.

Port Services

• Container handling: Modern container terminals with deep-sea and feeder vessel capability, supported by computerized quay operations.
• Cargo operations: Handles bulk, breakbulk, project cargo, steel, metals, agribulk, forest products, and chemicals.
• Ship services: Berthing, pilotage, towage, bunkering, and vessel support.
• Warehousing: Extensive covered and open storage, including large-scale distribution facilities.
• Customs: Full customs clearance, inspection, and bonded warehousing services.

Global Connectivity

North Tees, United Kingdom, offers excellent connectivity as part of the Teesport complex, with direct access to the North Sea and regular shipping routes to major European markets including Scandinavia, the Baltics, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Iceland, and Iberia. It serves the North of England and the wider UK through integrated rail links to Felixstowe, Grangemouth, and Mossend, and immediate motorway access via the A66, A19, and A1(M), supporting efficient distribution to key industrial and commercial regions.

Port Statistics

Port: North Tees (Teesport), United Kingdom
TEU Throughput: Approximately 500,000 TEU annually
World Ranking: Not in the global top 100 container ports
Number of Berths: 7 main berths at Tees Dock, plus 4 container berths (TCT1 and TCT2)
Area: Extensive port estate with over 1,300 meters of quay; large warehousing and open storage
Shipping Lines: Serviced by major global and regional carriers, supporting container, bulk, and project cargo operations