What’s Really Affecting UK Ports?

For everyone from maritime consultants to ordinary citizens, understanding current strains on UK ports is crucial. The link between port pressure and the overall economy in the UK is undeniable: any disruption or major shift in the operation of ports can have a ripple effect that is felt across all industries in the country. Operating as Designated Persons to several UK ports, means #Marico is often a witness to the strains faced by them and understands how this can impact across the industry. So, we take a look at the current pressures in early 2023 and where the ripples go.

Decarbonisation

#Decarbonising UK ports is becoming increasingly important in the modern world as we move towards a future of environmental sustainability. With technology such as shore-side plug-ins (“Cold Ironing”) and ship exhaust scrubbers, port authorities are playing an important role in reducing emission levels for vessels arriving in their harbours.

David Foster, Designated Person for several ports across the UK for Marico, has a wealth of experience of Harbour Mastering after 3 years as Deputy Queens Harbour Master in Portsmouth and 11 years with the Port of London Authority, comments “Decarbonisation isn’t just being talked about anymore, it’s become part of the job, it is a new strand of work. Accommodating Shore side plug ins to new fuel vessels, scrubbers and environmental hazardous clean up after environmental issues are all part of the wider decarbonisation goals”.

Recruitment

Recruitment for mid- to senior-level management posts has become difficult in the port industry. This is due to reduced skills filtering down from retiring UK Merchant and Royal Navy personnel wishing to work shore side, where maritime knowledge was often passed down directly from experienced personnel to new recruits. Royal Navy numbers has greatly reduced through overall shrinkage, however with the war in Ukraine has impacted with the Navy has begun to focus its efforts on retention and attracting new recruits. 2020 saw a 30% spike in Naval applications due to Covid. There is sure to be an uplift in skilled talent, re-entering but these efforts won’t be felt across the industry for some years to come.

David Foster has experienced this in his dealings as a Designated Person, sharing the concern “Ports are finding it very difficult to recruit for mid to senior management posts such as Chief Operating Officers, Harbour Masters, VTS Officers, Tug Masters etc. The Merchant and Royal Navy have historically filtered down skills that filled these roles and it isn’t happening so much now.”

Increase of women in ports

However, there is some good news; more women are now taking up positions as harbour masters than ever before and this shift is occurring without much attention being drawn to it. When ABP joined the Diversity in Maritime Charter programme early in 2021, it led to a domino effect with many others following suit, and as such we’re now seeing a great increase of women in port roles.

“The good news is a good number of female harbour masters are now out there, again in usual port style with no fuss being made, they just get on with it” David shares.

Crew Pay

The recent events at Dover have highlighted issues with #CrewPay on ferries entering British ports. As a result, legislation is currently being drafted which would enforce some vessel operators to ensure they comply with legal wage standards. Unfortunately, enforcing such laws will be difficult and it is likely to be given to ports to enforce who currently do not possess sufficient expertise in such areas. Understanding the current drivers for UK ports allows not just our Designated Person services to provide a holistic support solution, but understanding what is current in UK ports also filters into larger scale projects when considering #RiskManagement, on all counts, human, navigational, environmental and socio economic.

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