Company helps Sunderland Tall Ships Races crews reach dry land

Tyne Gangway (Structures) Ltd has kindly agreed to provide gangways to The Tall Ships Races Sunderland 2018. Most ships will arrive with their own gangways on board, however, depending on size and berth location; some may need a little help.

To ensure safe access for visitors and crew alike, all vessels taking part in the event will have access to the most appropriate gangways available.Head of events at Sunderland City Council, Victoria French said: “This is a fantastic gesture by Tyne Gangway and I’d like to express our thanks for their generous support.

"It’s fantastic this local business has stepped forward and offered help in this way.“There are still many ways for businesses to get involved in supporting The Tall Ships Races Sunderland 2018.

"From, hosting a corporate event on the deck or having a team trip sailing on one of these magnificent there is something for businesses of all sizes.”Managing director of Tyne Gangway Ltd, Ken McDonald is a keen supporter of Tall Ships events and offered similar support in 2016 when Blyth hosted The Tall Ships North Sea Regatta.Ken said: "We are only too happy to help this fantastic event happening here in the North East."Not only will our products help deliver a safe occasion, they will also give many people access to the deck of a Tall Ship and the excitement and wonder that brings.

"After all, there are not that many products that can literally bridge the gap between modern day and history and The Tall Ships Races Sunderland 2018 with a little help from us will do just that.”Tyne Gangway is based in North Tyneside at Howdon Quays where it builds bespoke and standard gangways and linkspans for all varieties of marine operations.

Its skilled teams create amazing and complex functional access structures from sections of raw aluminium.Tyne Gangways aluminium gangways are supplied to customers throughout the world, including oilrigs, offshore wind turbines, cruise ships, warships, icebreakers and even submarines.

It produces around 200 gangways per year ranging from 2m to 50m in length and produced gangways for many famous ships, including FRY Britannia and aircraft carriers, Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales and also the famous Tall Ship Glenlee now moored at the Glasgow Riverside Museum of Transport.Senior designer Steve Quinan, who is Sunderland born and raised. worked for Sunderland Shipbuilders prior to Joining Tyne Gangway in 1992.

Steve is one of its longest serving employees and his son and daughter both work there too.For further information about The Tall Ships Races 2018 follow the team via www.tallshipssunderland.com, Twitter @TallShipsSund or on Facebook at TallShipsRacesSunderland