Official naming of the PD Ports’ new dredger

The hopper dredger Emerald Duchess has been officially named by PD Ports longest serving member of staff in a ceremony on the banks of the river.

The christening ceremony, traditionally held to bring luck to a new vessel and all who sail in her, was attended by 250 people from across Teesside’s river community, business and education leaders and maritime experts.

The vessel’s godmother is Sue Green, who has served PD Ports as the Harbor Master’s secretary for almost 40 years, during which time she has supported the wide range of stakeholders who work on and around the river.

The Emerald Duchess – built by renowned Dutch shipbuilder Neptune – is a major investment by PD Ports and represents the company’s commitment to the economic and environmental sustainability of the Tees.

Dredging activity on the Tees takes place daily and is vital to keep the river safe and navigable for the thousands of vessels that visit its waters each year,

The Emerald Duchess is expected to serve the Tees for up to 50 years and has been ‘future-proofed’, with an innovative intelligent power management system including a battery pack equivalent to 10 Tesla cars and using 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 which will mean it will eventually run with zero greenhouse gas emissions.

The Emerald Duchess, which can carry 2,500 tonnes and hold up 2,000 cubic meters of dredged material, is crewed by a team made up entirely of Teessiders, who have been carrying out trials on the river before the vessel starts active service.