What’s next for UK ports and shipping? Richard Ballantyne OBE explains | Full Ahead Ep 12

Welcome from Alistair and Nigel to the February edition of The Full Ahead Podcast!

As well as getting out to meet people from all walks of life we look forward to spending time with some the maritime industry's movers and shakers .

Richard Ballantyne OBE is Chief Executive of the BritishPorts Association, the national membership body for over 400 ports, harbours and other marine facilities in the UK.

From energy hubs to passenger terminals,fishing ports to those handling leisure craft, the BPA’s members account for86% of all UK port tonnage.

With at least 125,000 people working in port operations it’sa major industry and one that’s undergoing change. The aftermath of Brexit, efforts to become more sustainable plus recruitment and influencing UK government policy and international committees are among a long list of issues that the BPA is involved in.

Richard joined the association in 2007 before becoming ChiefExecutive in 2016 and as a Director of Maritime UK, a Trustee of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board charity and former Director of Port Skills and Safety Ltd, we were delighted to talk to him.

In this episode we discuss:

1. An introduction to the work of the BPA

2. How to be heard; raising the awareness of theindustry in the minds of those whose decision directly affect it.

3. Is it getting harder for smaller ports? Are thebigger ports then just going to get bigger?

4. How does he view the health of UK ports at themoment?

5. Who should pay for new infrastructure at ports?(A recurring theme at the Shipping Ferry Summit series recorded in Malmo.)

6. Shore power and how it may develop.

7. The challenges of recruitment and theopportunities on offer in ports around the UK.

8. The legacy of Brexit, specifically the new port property built to enable smooth trade which is not in use, and how discussions are continuingto see how it could be used in the future.

9. The future!

Thanks to Richard for talking to The Full Ahead Podcast.

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