PD Ports has christened the latest vessel in its fleet, High Tide Adventure, with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council leader, Sue Jeffrey, proud to take on the role of its ‘godmother’.

The Harbour Master launch was named after the High Tide Foundation, a charity co-founded by PD Ports to help raise the aspirations and awareness of job opportunities for young people on Teesside.

Based at Teesport, it will also provide river trips along the Tees to schoolchildren, politicians and businesses to see the multi-million pound investments made.

PD Ports’ CEO, David Robinson, who is also chairman of the High Tide Foundation this year, said: "This is an excellent craft for engaging stakeholders to promote the River Tees as a major hub of industry and a key driver of the economy.

"The Foundation has been providing a fantastic range of courses over the past four to five years engaging 4,000 young people and connecting them with companies across Teesside. This vessel is here to be used to promote the river and Teesport."

Previously used as a wind farm support vessel, the High Tide Adventure was gutted and remodelled by a team led by naval architect Andrew Ridley from PD Ports’ Conservancy department.

Redcar MP Anna Turley, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Chief Executive Amanda Skelton and Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd were among the invited guests at the ceremony who then sailed on board High Tide Adventure to the mouth of the River Tees.

Made a godmother for the first time, Councillor Jeffrey said she was delighted to have been chosen for the role before she cut a ribbon to break a sacrificial bottle of champagne over the bow. "The responsibility is a privilege and an honour. I think it the river is really awe-inspiring and with the help of the High Tide Adventure we will be able to show people what’s at the heart of the Tees Valley.

"The High Tide Foundation’s unique selling point is its collaboration between businesses and that’s very much what we are about in the Tees Valley because we know that none of us can make the area a success on our own."