A company that brought mothballed docks back to life on Teesside has created more than 100 jobs in the process.
UK Docks Marine services re-opened docks on the Tees last year, after they had stood derelict for more than two decades.
The company invested heavily, bringing the docks to operational use within a few months.
The first of the two docks was re-opened last October - 107 years to the day that it originally opened.
The second will be back in business this summer.
The project has created “well over” 100 jobs - and now UK Docks Marine Services has won a top industry award in recognition of its work on Teesside.
The Joint Branch of the Royal Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, and Royal Institution of Naval Architects.
The authoritative industry body’s annual North East award acknowledges the way the company has bucked a historic, domestic trend.
Awards committee member John Eltringham said: “UK Docks Marine Services deserve enormous credit for taking a very brave step in Middlesbrough.
“When I first started out in the marine business in the North East in the 1980s there were 27 dry docks in the region.
“Now there are only a handful.
“It was a sign of ambition and determination for UK Docks to take over mothballed dry docks in Teesside and bring them back to life.
“Our own institution contains bodies which date all the way back to the 1880s, when this country was the biggest shipbuilding nation in the world.
“Since then, the industry has seen a massive decline but top quality experience and expertise still remains in the region.
“And UK Docks, which supplies work on the Tyne, the Wear and now on the Tees, has given a real vote of confidence in that fact.
“They are worthy award winners and deserve great credit for what they are doing.”
UK Docks managing director Harry Wilson, who collected the award with sons Jonathan, Gary and Chris - all involved in running parts of the business - described it as a great honour.
He told the Gazette: “This is the second time we’ve won it - the first was when we re-opened the dry dock in Sunderland in 2002.
“And it is nice to think that all these years later we are still re-opening docks in the North-east.
“Over time, the company has been fortunate enough to enjoy success in the industry and that has seen us opening up boat repair facilities on the south coast of England at Gosport and in the north west at Whitehaven.
“But we’re very proud of what we are doing in Middlesbrough.
“And we’re pleased to be in a position to keep bringing business, jobs and security to the North-east in one of its traditional industries.”
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