The UK Harbour Masters’ Association (UKHMA) 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, PD Ports) 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 Brooks Background:
Captain Brooks started his career 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 gain his Master 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.
“I’ve been a long standing member of the UK Harbour Masters’ Association since 2012. I became an Association National Council representative in 2017 and Association Honorary Treasurer in 2021. I have always been a very enthusiastic supporter of the UKHMA and the excellent work it does; a regular attendee at Association events and conferences and periodic Council meetings; I have regularly represented the Association at a number of external UK Maritime meetings and forums.
Becoming Association Honorary Treasurer, I enjoyed taking an increased role in the management of the Association and 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 objectives as 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.”
Captain Paul Brooks Statement:
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 relevant expert knowledge and experience across a 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 Governments and associated regulatory Maritime Agencies
 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 Brooks Background:Captain Brooks started his career 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 gain his Master 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 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 objectives as 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 relevant expert knowledge and experience across a 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 Governments and associated regulatory Maritime Agencies){kind=link}