Eleven students from four schools across the region including Dyke House School in Hartlepool, Rye Hills Secondary School in Redcar, St Peters School and Unity City Academy in Middlesbrough have set sail for the Port of Rotterdam, courtesy of P&O Ferries.

The group will spend two days in Rotterdam where they will see first-hand how one of the busiest ports in the world operates, as well as gaining an understanding of the many varied roles available in the maritime industry as a whole. 

High Tide members, Vopak, will host a fact-filled river trip whilst Huntsman and Tata Steel will take the young people on a tour of their facilities at the Port of Rotterdam, as well as on Teesside prior to their journey. PD Ports will also offer an exciting insight into the important role Teesport plays as a major hub for trade with key European and worldwide markets. 

Kevin Shakesheff, Chairman of the High Tide Foundation, commented: “This is an incredible opportunity for these young people. What better way to learn about the importance of Teesside’s industrial platform and how it connects with other ports and global markets than to experience it in person. It’s an opportunity few will ever get to experience.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity the companies involved have provided as without them this trip wouldn’t be possible. The Foundation is based on collaboration between member companies to provide a unique experience for the region’s young people. We are looking forward to new and exciting programmes in the pipeline and I hope we can provide many more educational visits like this in the future.”