The Emerald Duchess has proudly made its arrival to the River Tees.

The £23m dredger, a major investment by PD Ports into the economic and environmental sustainability of the river, made its way on to the Tees early this morning 26/08/2024 under tow, fresh from successful sea trials in the Netherlands.

At 71m long and with its standout green livery, the Emerald Duchess is set to become a familiar sight on the 12 miles of the Tees to the North Sea and at Port of Hartlepool, providing a vital service to keep Teesport safe and accessible for the many thousands of vessels that enter its waters each year.

This morning the Emerald Duchess made its way to PD Ports’ conservancy berth in Middlesbrough, in the shadow of the Transporter Bridge, where it was formally welcomed by PD Ports chief executive officer Frans Calje.

The Emerald Duchess has been ‘future-proofed’ as part of PD Ports’ commitment to becoming the UK’s most sustainable port company – as highlighted in the launch of the company’s first sustainability strategy.

PD Ports conservancy vessel crew members – who are all Teessiders – have spent several days in the Netherlands for training on the new vessel and observing sea trials.

Fitted with an innovative intelligent power management system, the Emerald Duchess can swap between power from a battery pack equivalent to 10 Tesla cars and fuel made from hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel.

It is also ready for future innovation, with hatches above the engine room that will allow power units to be swapped out for modern fuel cells as the technology matures, using methanol or ethanol fuel.

The Emerald Duchess, which can carry 2,500 tonnes and hold up 2,000 cubic metres of dredged material, is the latest in a series of multi-million pound investments by PD Ports in assets that will support our push to be the UK’s most sustainable port company, including two £9m electric-hydraulic Liebherr bulk cargo cranes at Tees Dock.

As Statutory Harbour Authority (SHA), PD Ports has the powers to dredge to legally agreed levels to allow commercial operations along the Tees and at Hartlepool, creating a safe and consistent passage for vessels of depths up to 17metres.

The method of removing sediment brought into the river by the tides, which is then discharged into designated areas off the coast, is closely monitored and regulated by the Marine Management Organisation with a process that has been in place for more than 50 years.

Frans Calje said: “It is an honour to have welcomed the Emerald Duchess to the Tees to be officially recognised a British vessel, registered in Middlesbrough.

“The Emerald Duchess is a major investment for PD Ports and represents our commitment to the river and the wider responsibilities placed on us as Statutory Harbour Authority for the Port of Tees and Hartlepool.

“Without dredging, all economic activity on the Tees would stop within weeks, if not days. It is a vital service to keep the beating heart of the region working effectively, sustaining around 22,000 jobs.

“The work that has been done by Neptune and our team at PD Ports to design and build a ship that is environmentally sustainable is commendable. This vessel has a life span of around 40 years, so it was important to design in flexibility to adapt to the amazing progress that’s being in made in decarbonised fuels.

“I look forward to seeing the Emerald Duchess working out on the river, keeping it safe and accessible for many years to come.”