UK Docks has agreed on a long-term lease on two more dry docks on Teesside, a move which will see the massive former Smith's dockyards site brought roaring back to life under one company, with new jobs created to boost marine services on the river.
UK Docks Marine already operated two of the dry docks previously belonging to the iconic Smith's Docks Company but is now set to reopen the other two.
This means that the entire former Smith's dockyard estate, which opened in the first decade of the 20th century and closed in 1987, is once again being run by a single company.
For UK Docks, signing the contract to take over yards that have been vacant for almost a year is a proud moment.
The goal now is to turn Teesside into an even more important destination hub for ship maintenance and repair nationally and internationally in the years ahead, launching a new era for marine services and repair on the Tees.
The announcement of the new tenancy follows months of negotiation with site owners PD Ports.
Dan Haslar, senior property manager at PD Ports, (orange hat), congratulates UK Docks founder Harry Wilson and his sons Gary, Jonathan and Chris.
Multi-million pound investment
The agreement will now spark a multi-million-pound investment in the yard, which has two dry docks and extensive workshops across its 10-acre site but will benefit from extensive modernisation in the next few years.
UK Docks’ managing director, Jonathan Wilson, said: “We are delighted to have taken over the site and look forward to redeveloping it and restoring it to a functional facility again.
“We see a lot of potential and possibilities in the site and have a five-year plan to maximise it as an asset.
“Work will start immediately bringing it back to life, and we expect to have it effectively operational again very soon.
“The lease effectively trebles UK Docks’ footprint on the Tees from five acres to 16.5 acres, and we plan to have both sites working in harmony with each other to the benefit of our customers.”
Frans Calje, chief executive officer of PD Ports, said: “We are delighted to agree this deal with UK Docks, which will see the full complement of dry docks on the Tees brought back into use and with great plans to upgrade the facilities.
“The dry docks at Tees Commerce Park have been a key part of the river economy for many years, back to the days of Smith’s Dock, and play a vital role in servicing and maintaining the many vessels that visit and work on this river.”
Largest, independent, family-owned ship repair company in the country
The expansion consolidates UK Docks’ position as the largest, independent, family-owned ship repair company in the country and represents its second significant investment in Teesside.
Established by the Wilson family on a single slipway in South Shields in 1992, UK Docks expanded to revive boatyard and ship repair sites at Cremyll and Gosport on the south coast and, just over a decade ago, took over the former Smiths Dock Ship Repair Company on the Tees.
After extensive restoration of the dilapidated site, it received its first vessel in 2015 - almost 30 years after Smiths closed.
UK Docks’ original 2014 investment saw the company acquire two dry docks, measuring 137 metres by 18.6 metres (No. 4 Dock) and 167.6 metres by 20.4 metres (No. 3 Dock), as well as a fully equipped repair berth, cranes, workshops, and a storage facility.
The new lease will see two more docks added—one measuring 175.26 metres by 22.25 metres and the other 120 metres by 17.3 metres. The bigger of the two dockyards will allow UK Docks to tender for a broader range of vessels.
In addition, the newly leased yard offers lay-by berths, an extra 200 metres of quay space, extensive fabrication, engineering workshop facilities, and laydown areas.
Four UK Docks workers inside the largest of the dry docks acquired show its scale.
Bright future ahead for workers at dockyards on the Tees
MD Jonathan Wilson said: “UK Docks is giving a massive vote of confidence in the future of marine services in the North East, and we were pleased PD Ports bought into our plans and vision for the site.
“Once again, UK Docks is investing in a national industry which many people regarded as being in terminal decline.
“We’ve shown that’s not the case over the years, and we’re very excited about what we might accomplish on Teesside in the years ahead.
“Already, we’ve taken on extra staff with more to follow.
“We plan to modernise the site, upgrade the facilities, and expand many of the services we already provide next door. Having four docks will allow us to look for new opportunities and expand on our existing services and facilities.
Soon to be open for business - the two new dry docks on the Tees acquired by UK Docks.
“As well as hoping to attract new customers, nationally and internationally, the new docks will benefit our existing customers because there are times we have to schedule with two docks and having four docks means there will be additional dry dock space for customers when needed.
“We’d like to thank Malcolm Wood of Mincoffs Solicitors for help and support in getting this long-term lease agreed and signed to bring these docks back into use.
“It will make our operation more efficient and enable us to increase our market.
“Teesside is set up for supporting the offshore wind industry and offshore support vessels, dredgers, survey vessels and tankers. We can be a service centre supporting that huge and growing industry all across the North Sea and beyond.”
Royal Navy contracts have also become a major part of UK Docks' business in recent years—the navy’s only icebreaker, HMS Protector, as well as HMS Enterprise and HMS Echo, were previously regular visitors to Teesside.
The new acquisition, with its larger docks and quay space, will also benefit tendering for future contracts.
