Member Article

Marine specialist returns to Sunderland

An offshore specialist has returned to the Port of Sunderland for the summer to carry out work with North East windfarms and oil and gas companies.

The Gardline Group provides marine support services, such as environmental and geological surveys, for businesses operating in the offshore and green energy generation sectors.

Its vessel has docked in Sunderland for a fourth year to take advantage of the location and access to customers offered by the port.

Stewart Day, from Gulf Agency Company (GAC), the ship agency for Gardline Group, said: “GAC recently opened its agency department at the existing Washington Logistics facility to deal with local ports such as Port of Sunderland, rather than operating from our office at Teesside as we hope to show our commitment to building relationships with ports we’ve utilised in the past.

“The Port of Sunderland’s location is particularly attractive as it is ideally located for projects out in the North Sea, as well as field sites in the area. Last year, we received a great service from the team, so it was an easy to decision to return to Dogger Bank for the fourth year running.”

The Port is now aiming to develop its relationship with the Gardline Group and use the ongoing work as a demonstration of the facilities available to marine specialists.

Port director Matthew Hunt said: “We have believed for a long time that Port of Sunderland has a special and quite unique offer and the commitment shown by Gardline Group in returning is an encouraging accolade.

“I’m keen to start building a good link with the business and I hope that this partnership will deliver significant mutual benefits for both the organisations.”

Chair of the port’s board and leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Paul Watson, added: “Port of Sunderland is well suited to meet the current demands of the North Sea oil and gas and the offshore renewable industry sectors and Gardline Group’s decision to revisit the port as a returning customer is not only a great coup, it reaffirms this standard.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Karen Dent .