New UK Harbour Masters’ Association President –Captain Paul Brooks
The Association was pleased to announce following a warmly contested ballot the appointment of UKHMA North East Executive Council Member and former Association Treasurer Captain Paul Brooks (Harbour Master, Tees & Hartlepool, PDPorts) as the new UKHMA President during its AGM meeting in Newcastle-Upon Tyne on Wednesday 5th July.The Office of the President is strategically significant. It is the President who, most often, provides the Association’s public face and presents the collective views of the membership on behalf of the Association. The Association Presidency appointment is for 2 years’ duration but can be extended in exceptional circumstances.
Captain Paul BrooksBackground:Captain Brooksstarted hiscareer as a Merchant Navy cadet with the Ben Line in 1979 and progressed on a wide range of vessel types over a number of years going on to gainhisMaster Mariner’s Certificate in 1992.
He came ashore in 1995 as Assistant Harbour Master at the Ports of Tees and Hartlepool in the NE of England, progressing to Deputy Harbour Master in 2003 and Harbour Master in 2016.
Tees and Hartlepool is one of the largest commercial Ports in the UK, a fascinating port with everything from fishing vessels and small coasters to 150,000t tankers and bulk carriers. The Port is at the fore front of modern developments with alternative fuels, renewables and has recently received Freeport status. Captain Paul Brooks Statement:
“I’ve been a long standing member oftheUKHarbour Masters’Association since 2012. I became an Association National Council representativein 2017 and Association Honorary Treasurer in 2021.Ihave always been a very enthusiastic supporter of the UKHMAand the excellent work it does;aregular attendee at Association events and conferencesand periodic Council meetings;I haveregularlyrepresented the Association at a number of external UK Maritime meetingsand forums. Becoming Association Honorary Treasurer, I enjoyed taking an increased role in the management of the Associationand am delighted to have now attained the highly regarded position of Association President following appointment by my fellow Harbour Masters and Association members.I believe that the UKHMA’s Industry and Government recognition is developing rapidly whilst attracting a record level of membership. I do not feel the need for a radical change in our direction of travel or our strategic aims and objectivesas they continue to remain very relevant as we move forward. I will endeavour to continue to do what we do well and what has made us such a successful professional member organisation whilst identifying increased value and benefits for the membership and our industry stakeholders.”
The United Kingdom Harbour Masters’Association is the world’s oldest and largest Harbour Master & Port Marine Management Association and consists of approximately 500Harbour Masters and Port professionals from ports, harbours and marinas across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.The Association represents a unique source of relevantexpert knowledgeand experience acrossa range of port and marine operations. The main objective of the Association, which was formed in 1993, is to encourage the safe and efficient conduct of marine operations in ports and engage with, advise and consult with the UK and the Devolved Nation’s Governmentsand associated regulatory Maritime Agencies
