David Robinson, PD Ports' CEO presenting Unifeeder MD, Jesper Kristensen with a framed photograph of Teesport to mark the occasion.

PD Ports has a new container feeder service into Teesport by one of Europe's largest feeder operations.

The new service by Unifeeder, which will sail into Teesport three times weekly, will open up the German market via Hamburg and also serve Rotterdam.

PD Ports managing director - unitised Frans Calje says the company's strategy is to expand its port-wide capacity.

"This new call into Teesport greatly enhances the network of services which we can offer to the North East region's importers and exporters ... We have considerable growth opportunities, backed by long-term investment, which will position Teesport as a major player in the container market," Calje says.

He adds that PD Ports has experienced 68% year-on-year growth in volumes at its two container terminals,from 35,000 TEUs in the first quarter of 2009 to 58,700 TEUs.

"We are expecting to see a 50% growth over the whole year to December 2010."

Jesper Kristensen, Unifeeder's managing director, says the Danish shipping line is excited to include Teesport in its feeder network. "We hope our many customers will benefit from our decision to include the UK East Coast in our future service calls."

Teesport's total unitised business, which includes ro-ro services, now handles over 425,000 TEUs a year. PD Ports, a UK supply chain services provider, employs over 1,140 people and generates an annual turnover of over GBP120 million (USD177.6 million) from its ports and logistics centres.