The Port of Blyth recently held a multi-agency exercise in late September, facilitated by our joint venture partners State 21 Ltd.
The exercise involving Police, Fire and Rescue, Border Force, along with Port of Blyth staff and Reay Security, tested both the Port’s preparedness for emergencies and in particular their response to security incidents.
Martin Willis, Port of Blyth Harbour Master/Port Facility Security Officer, said: “As a growing Trust Port it is of vital importance that the systems, plans and procedures we have in place to deal with emergency situations and security incidents are fit for purpose.
“State 21’s recent assistance with testing our readiness, contingency and business continuity planning for responding to such events was invaluable as their expertise of emergency planning and response ensured that all potential eventualities were tested fully and that the Port’s protocols for such scenarios remain both robust and effective.”
State 21 is a resilience management consultancy delivering training, exercises and de-briefing at strategic, tactical and operational levels.
Richard Rowland, Managing Director of State 21, also commented: “We were delighted to help such a forward-thinking Port to test their plans and to facilitate a multi-agency exercise, which enhances both Port Security and emergency response.
“Port of Blyth should be rightly proud of their continuing focus on making the Port more secure and as a result more attractive to business.”
The Port of Blyth, in Northumberland, is the operating division of Blyth Harbour Commission, an independent statutory trust port established in 1882.
We’ve carried out a pivotal assessment review of the tugboat operations in the new third set of NeoPanamax locks of the $5.25 billion Expanded Panama Canal and made other operational observations.
We were instructed by Autoridad del Canal de Panama (Panama Canal Authority – ACP) with a brief to focus on Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) procedures.
ACP accepted our findings in early September 2017 and is now considering any modifications to its procedures and the optimization of its schedules.
Our Managing Director, Captain Malcolm W Parrott said: “We were selected after a highly competitive international bidding process for our depth of experience and expertise in all aspects of the study including shipping, operations and safety procedures.
“Our findings will contribute to a quicker, more efficient and safer operation on the canal for the benefits of ACP’s shipping company, military and leisure customers as well as their employees and suppliers.
“That fact that ACP decided to invest in this project demonstrates that it is a forward thinking organisation with a focus on its staff.
“It was a pleasure to work with all at ACP and we are now discussing working together on future projects for this pre-eminent waterway.”
Our team of experts, included Captain M W Parrott, Captain Orlando Allard the ex-Chief Pilot of the Panama Canal and Captain John R Freestone, the ex-Chief Pilot of the Port of London Authority.
The team spent a considerable time in Panama transiting the canal and both new and old locks aboard transiting vessels and assisting ACP tugboats.
They held lengthy interviews and meetings with all canal stakeholders and spent time at ACP’s world class training facilities at the new ship handling lake at Summit and simulators and training facilities at SIDMAR.
The team was led professionally by John P Crummie, ex managing director of DFDS Seaways, assisted by Kevin W Hawes, TMG’s Business Development Director.
Contribution was also made by Captain Ashwani Singhania from our newly registered company in Singapore -The Maritime Group (Asia), showing the true international diversity and reach of TMG.
For benchmarking purposes TMG professionals gathered operational data and information from other port operations experienced in handling NeoPanamax size vessels using tugsboats in UK and European ports.
Stephen Canning, a senior manager from our strategic partner Peter Brett Associates (PBA), provided key analytical support to our efforts.
Captain John M Cox, president of The Maritime Group, Inc. in the USA, an ex Panama Canal pilot also contributed his expertise.
Panama Canal Administrator, Jorge L Quijano said: “TMG’s high standards and aspiration for excellence match our own.
“This study will play a major role as we continue to expand capacity in a sustainable and safe way, whilst also helping to drive international trade and prosperity.”
ACP is an autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal.
We’ve appointed Kevin Hawes as our Business Development Director as we step up ambitious growth plans.
Kevin takes the new role after securing a number of contract wins over the past year as our Business Development Manager. He has also been named as a Non-Executive Director.
Kevin, who is based at TMG Europe’s head office on Victoria Embankment in London, said: “TMG has demonstrated its international reach with new business in Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America recently.
“Despite increased global uncertainty, we have experienced a very successful year so far and aim to move the business into the next phase of its growth.
“I am ambitious for TMG and delighted to become its Business Development Director.”
Internationally experienced sales professional Kevin joined TMG in November 2016 with a highly successful background in business to business solution sales, key account management and new business development.
His extensive maritime experience includes 17 years in the Royal Naval Submarine Service where he reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander and, more recently, in sales of marine terminal and supply chain optimization solutions to oil and gas majors worldwide.
Our Managing Director Malcolm W Parrott said: “Kevin has been very instrumental in the growth of TMG since joining the company.
“He is ideally placed as Business Development Director to drive the business forward worldwide.”
Our services include marine consultancy; operational and business advice; bid development, management and support; safety and security at sea; ship brokerage and port development and marketing.
Other services include port operation and management; cargo and freight operations; maritime business development; ship inspections, audits and vetting; technical services and litigation services and expert witness.