"PLAIN SAILING" FOR PORT THANKS TO IT STRATEGY
June 2010

Waterstons has been given the opportunity to work with the Port of Tyne in the realisation of their new business strategy.

Following the appointment of a number of new members to the senior management team and significant growth over recent years at The Port of Tyne,  Waterstons was tasked with developing an IT strategy to support the Port’s business strategy and aim to “create a vibrant and sustainable Port of Tyne”.

The Port, which up until the 1990s was famous for its coal imports, now operates 5 commercial business areas as well as 3 rail terminals and an international cruise and passenger terminal. The Port’s management team recognised that effective use of IT could reduce its operating costs, improve efficiency and allow accurate measurement of key performance indicators.

Waterstons were selected to develop an IT strategy for The Port of Tyne due to their track record in delivering effective IT strategies and their experience of working with other key players in the North East’s transport infrastructure including Newcastle International Airport.

John Hudson, Chief Financial Officer at The Port of Tyne commented “The Management team worked extremely hard to develop the current business strategy and recognised a need for an IT strategy of the same quality to support it if we were to achieve our aim to create a vibrant and sustainable Port of Tyne.”

Waterstons worked closely with The Port of Tyne’s Management team to identify how IT could support them in achieving the objectives outlined in their business strategy which included raising the ports profile as a commercial organisation. Waterstons identified the Port’s business priorities and developed an IT strategy that included several large projects as well as a number of quick win tasks which could be accomplished using existing tools and systems, already in place at the Port.

Sally Waterston, Waterstons Director commented “We were privileged to be given the opportunity to work with such an important and high-profile organisation in the region.”