PD Ports will use the freed-up area to hold empty container stocks for its major customers.

PD Ports has completed the GBP2 million (USD3.3 million) expansion of its container terminal handling facilities at Teesport on the north-east coast of England.

The development is the first phase of its latest expansion program. It involves relocating the port's Vauxhall cars import compound behind the TCT2 container terminal facilities to free up 10 acres of land for rising container volumes.

The port will use the freed-up area to hold empty container stocks for its major customers like CMA CGM, Containerships and MSC. About GBP600,000 (USD994,895) has been invested in two new empty container handlers, four terminal tractors and five trailers to handle the growing numbers of containers stored in the dock area.

David Robinson, PD Ports' group CEO, says the increase in container volume at Teesport is a result of "general growth" of existing customer activity and increasing "port-centric logistic traffic" from its clients, Asda WalMart and Tesco, whose 1.2 million sqft (111,484 sqm) import centre opens at Teesport this week.

"Further expectation of growth in our container volume comes through trans-shipment volumes. Containership recently announced Teesport as its strategic freight hub for Northern Europe, bringing an increase of 20,000 TEUs through the Port each year," Robinson adds.

PD Ports' annual container handling capacity at Teesport has increased from 206,000 TEUs to 236,000 TEUs since the expansion.

PD Ports Ltd was established after the successful takeover of PD Ports plc by Babcock and Brown Infrastructure in February 2006. It employs over 1,350 staff and generates over GBP130 million (USD215.6 million) in annual turnover from 30 UK locations.