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Displaying items by tag: Britains Biggest Energy Port

#Ports&Shipping - The south Wales Port of Milford Haven, Britain’s biggest energy port, has launched a survey to gather views on its roles and operations as a leading regional business.

The poll, which the Port says is critical to understanding issues faced by its many and diverse stakeholders, is a simple online questionnaire that takes no more than ten minutes to complete.

The Port of Milford Haven is a Trust Port with no shareholders, and its profits must be reinvested within the Port to ensure it remains a strong business at the heart of the local economy for future generations. As the Port’s Chief Executive, Alec Don, explained, a clear understanding of all stakeholder views is a key way in which the Port can ensure it remains accountable.

“The broad scale of our operations, from providing safe navigation for all river users, to supporting and developing strong and diverse businesses across our estates, means that what we do touches on the lives and livelihoods of many people and businesses both locally and regionally,” said Alec.

“It is our duty to listen to all views, be they about our own plans as a business or the numerous ways in which what we do impacts on others,” he added. “As importantly, it helps us build and improve relationships with local organisations, businesses and interest groups with a stake in what happens on and around this Waterway.”

A key finding from last year’s survey was that businesses and residents in Pembrokeshire welcomed the Port of Milford Haven’s role as a driver of the local economy. “Nearly all respondents set great store by a busy port’s ability to create opportunity for local business to emerge and grow,” said Alec. “We are working hard on projects such as Pembroke Dock Marine and Milford Waterfront to bring greater opportunities for local business. Engaging widely, during what will be exciting times, is very important for us.”

A link to the survey can be found at www.mhpa.co.uk

Published in Ports & Shipping

Marine Wildlife Around Ireland One of the greatest memories of any day spent boating around the Irish coast is an encounter with marine wildlife.  It's a thrill for young and old to witness seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales right there in their own habitat. As boaters fortunate enough to have experienced it will testify even spotting a distant dorsal fin can be the highlight of any day afloat.  Was that a porpoise? Was it a whale? No matter how brief the glimpse it's a privilege to share the seas with Irish marine wildlife.

Thanks to the location of our beautiful little island, perched in the North Atlantic Ocean there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe.

From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals this page documents the most interesting accounts of marine wildlife around our shores. We're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and youtube clips.

Boaters have a unique perspective and all those who go afloat, from inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing that what they encounter can be of real value to specialist organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) who compile a list of sightings and strandings. The IWDG knowledge base has increased over the past 21 years thanks in part at least to the observations of sailors, anglers, kayakers and boaters.

Thanks to the IWDG work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. Here's the current list: Atlantic white-sided dolphin, beluga whale, blue whale, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, Cuvier's beaked whale, false killer whale, fin whale, Gervais' beaked whale, harbour porpoise, humpback whale, killer whale, minke whale, northern bottlenose whale, northern right whale, pilot whale, pygmy sperm whale, Risso's dolphin, sei whale, Sowerby's beaked whale, sperm whale, striped dolphin, True's beaked whale and white-beaked dolphin.

But as impressive as the species list is the IWDG believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves keep a sharp look out!