SENIOR APPOINTMENT FOR PORT’S NEW ENGINEERING DIVISION

A senior chartered civil engineer with over 20 years’ experience in marine projects has been appointed by the UK’s fifth busiest port as part of the creation of a new Engineering Division to deal with its ever-increasing property and infrastructure portfolio.

Milford Haven Port Authority, which is gearing up for the arrival of LNG tankers towards the end of next year, has appointed former consulting engineer, Derek Fenn, as Assistant Port Engineer in the new Division.

Mr Fenn, who lives in Llanelli, was formerly Head of Geotechnical and Maritime Engineering in Wales for Atkins Consultants and has worked extensively across the UK on a wide range of marine and water-related civil and structural engineering projects, particularly in Wales. He has worked on projects around the Haven over many years, including Milford Docks, the refineries and Milford Marina.

Headed by Engineering Director, Andrew Brown, the Engineering Division is the result of a major structural overhaul being implemented by the Authority to meet the management and other challenges which the arrival of the new traffic will bring.

As a trust port, Milford Haven operates commercially but with no shareholders, its remit is to operate for the benefit of the local economy. It has ambitious plans to maximise the return on its assets in addition to the benefits which LNG traffic will bring.

The Engineering Division has a wide range of responsibilities, including the gathering of information and condition surveys on all the Authority’s buildings, harbours, docks and other properties and infrastructure.

It also project manages the increasing number of commercial development projects being undertaken by the Port Authority, such as new housing and office developments, and joint development projects with private and public sector investors.

“The Port Authority is a £18m turnover business which, as is to be expected, owns a vast range of building and infrastructure assets, is rapidly acquiring others, and maintains an array of navigation aids and marine-based structures,” said Mr Brown.

“One of the roles of the new Division is to accumulate the detailed data which is needed for asset valuation, and to develop and implement a comprehensive planned maintenance programme over a 10 year period.

“We also respond to a developing area of the Port Authority’s business as it looks to exploit its property and land assets through new-build and refurbishment projects to create housing, commercial and other property developments.

“Derek’s appointment is a senior one and a lynchpin in the new operation. He brings with him an impressive range of experience in Wales and further afield and he will be an important part of the team charged with the delivery of engineering services at this important time for the Port Authority.”

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