A FIRM that has helped to breath new life into docks on the Tees, Tyne and Wear has been recognised with a major industry award.

Founded by Tynesider Harry Wilson in South Shields in 1995 and now headquartered in Sunderland, the dry dock specialists has grown into a national company running boat repair facilities on the south coast at Gosport and the north west at Whitehaven.

But the North-East remains UK Docks' heartland and this month its work in bringing Middlesbrough dockside back to life was put in the spotlight.

Last year the company re-opened dry docks on the Tees which had lain dormant for more than two decades, investing heavily in bringing them back up to operational use in double-quick time.

The first of the two docks was re-opened last October - 107 years to the very day that it originally opened.

The second will be back in business this summer.

And in the process, more than 100 jobs have been created.

That achievement was officially recognised this month by 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 1980’s there were 27 dry docks in the region.

“Now there are only a handful.

“So it was a sign of great ambition and determination for UK Docks to take over mothballed dry docks in Teesside last year 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 Marine Services which supplies work on the Tyne, the Wear and now on the Tees is 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 said: “This is the second time we’ve won it, the first was when we re-opened the dry dock at Sunderland in 2002.

“And it is nice to think that all these years later we are still re-opening docks in the North-East.

“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.”