PORT AUTHORITY CHIEF ELECTED CHAIR OF UK’S PORT ASSOCIATION

The chief executive of Milford Haven Port Authority has been elected chairman of the association which represents over 80 of the UK’s ports with a pledge to ensure their contribution to the UK’s economy is fully recognised.

Ted Sangster has become chairman of The British Ports Association, whose members include many of the ports in the country which together handle over 95% of the UK’s overseas trade, but whose role in the economy is often overlooked.

“Ports are really the unsung heros of the British economy,” he said. “They quietly get on with their job enabling goods to be taken to market, but rarely have the profile that other sectors of the transport equation enjoy.

“It has been said that ports are ‘the forgotten piece of transport infrastructure’. The general public have very limited understanding of ports compared with their everyday experience of road and rail, which generates strong opinions and a nation of transport policy experts.

“I am honoured to have been entrusted with the role of chairman of the Association, and see getting the point across about the value of ports as an important part of my role.”

Mr Sangster said his year as chairman promised to be one of non-stop consultation, with a number of key policy UK and European policy reviews and legislation to be discussed.

“These reviews must recognise the span of this complex industry,” he said. “We also want to look at the growth in importance of the regions, the impact of new regional policies, devolution and who pays for transport infrastructure investment.

“The BPA has a unique national profile to deal with the challenges ahead, and is in pole position, at this busy time, to remind everyone what ports can do in terms of economic development for their immediate locality and for the country as a whole.”

“I look forward to working with the industry and government colleagues to ensure that the contribution of our ports to the UK’s economy is fully recognised.”