AV Dawson, owner and operator of the Port of Middlesbrough, has strengthened its position in the bulk market by enhancing its specialist handling capabilities and increasing the range of bulk commodities moving through the port.
As a key multimodal logistics hub on the River Tees in the North of England, the Port of Middlesbrough handles a range of cargo types including breakbulk, steel and renewable energy. The port is now focusing more on the dry bulk sector, handling over 200,000 tonnes in the last 12 months.
The Teesside port is handling growing volumes of a variety of cargo types including ferrous sulphate, polyhalite, petroleum cokesalt and other industrial bulk products. This diversification reflects increasing customer demand for ports that can safely, efficiently and reliably manage high-volume, specialist bulk materials within integrated supply chains.
Sustained investment in end-to-end bulk infrastructure drives this growth, ensuring the port offers flexibility for both inward and outward bulk trades. Through the ports dedicated dry bulk facility, it operates a storage facility that provides customers with a specialist environment specifically designed for the safe handling, storage and onward distribution of dry bulk cargo.
Located adjacent to the port and immediately next to Middlesbrough Goods Yard, it provides a comprehensive multimodal solution for bulk cargo. The facility offers large-scale storage capacity for thousands of tonnes of product, provides weather-protected warehouse space for sensitive materials, operates advanced filtering and separation systems and maintains an on-site weighbridge to ensure precise weight management. Direct rail connectivity enables efficient onward distribution and supports customers’ low-carbon logistics objectives.
The port is also home to a rail-linked canopy, enabling reliable, all-weather rail operations and ensuring loading and discharge can continue uninterrupted in adverse conditions. The 100-metre structure protects bulk materials from moisture and contamination, helping to maintain cargo quality while improving operational efficiency and turnaround times. This covered environment provides customers with a dependable, year-round rail solution that supports sustainable, low-carbon freight movements.
Rail-linked, weatherproof storage canopy
To further enhance the port’s bulk handling, the port has invested in DockSolid grab pits. These purpose-built, weatherproof discharge pits sit directly on the quayside. The specialist assets enable bulk cargo to be discharged straight from the vessel to the pit, protecting both the cargo and the quayside while reducing the number of handling steps.
Each DockSolid pit is fitted with protective lids that preserve product integrity. They shield weather-sensitive materials from the elements. The mobile design allows these pits to be positioned close to the vessel. This helps optimise discharge efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and support higher throughput for bulk vessels.
DockSolid grab pit
To underpin rising volumes and an increasingly diverse commodity mix, the port also operates a wide fleet of modern bulk-handling plant and equipment. This includes high-capacity cranes, capable of handling up to 3,000 tonnes per crane per day, fitted with multiple grab types, alongside forklifts and specialist machinery. Together, these assets are designed to handle a broad range of dry bulk products safely, efficiently and at scale.
Port of Middlesbrough General Manager, Richard Hodgson said:
“Our continued focus in the bulk cargo sector reflects both the scale of our investment and the confidence customers have in the Port of Middlesbrough as a long-term bulk handling partner.
We’ve focused on building capability, from quayside discharge through to storage and multimodal distribution. This way, customers know their cargo is handled efficiently, safely and have complete peace of mind.”
Richard added:
“Bulk cargo is a core strength of the Port of Middlesbrough. While steel remains an important part of the region’s industrial heritage, we focus firmly on diversification and future resilience. By expanding the range of bulk materials we handle and investing in specialist infrastructure like the bulk handling facility, rail canopy and the DockSolid’s, we’ve created a more flexible, sustainable and competitive bulk port for customers across the UK and international supply chains.”