TEESPORT owner PD Ports yesterday appointed the man to oversee the development of the venue's new £300m container terminal.

Frans Calje becomes the key projects director at the Middlesbrough port, and will lead all project teams involved in the Northern Gateway Container Terminal (NGCT). The deep-sea terminal will allow direct imports from the Far East and will create up to 5,500 jobs in the region.

Dutch-born Mr Calje will be charged with overseeing the planning, construction and commercial aspects of the NGCT, which is expected to be completed by 2011.

The announcement comes as the latest boost for Teesport, only days after PD Ports confirmed that Tesco will become the tenant of a new £50m import centre at the venue, creating 800 jobs.

Mr Calje brings considerable experience in the development of creating multi-million pound container terminals throughout Europe and in the US, gained during his extensive career within APM Terminals.

David Robinson, chief executive of PD Ports, said: "Today's announcement of Frans' appointment follows our recent news that PD Ports and Tesco will be bringing 800 new jobs to the UK, through the development of a state-of-the-art import centre in the North-East of England.

"With this Tesco move, alongside the existing highly successful Asda Walmart import centre which opened at Teesport in spring 2006, we can see real momentum gathering behind our dream to create a major container handling portcentric logistics hub serving the North of England and Scotland based here in Teesport."