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Displaying items by tag: New Directors

Belfast Harbour has recently made the appointment of three new Directors to its Leadership Team.

The appointments are designed so to continue developing its strategy to become a world leading regional port and a key economic hub for the region. As well to growing economic activity, adopting new technology and to the highest environmental standards.

Ian Lang joined Belfast Harbour as Infrastructure and Sustainability Director. This follows 15 years’ experience in the transport and aviation sector, leading the development agenda at airports in various geographies, most recently including Gatwick, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Significant experience by Lang has been in delivering complex infrastructure projects, including the project management of large-scale capital investment portfolios, and will bolster Teams in developing high-quality, sustainable infrastructure. In addition the role involves promoting Belfast Harbour’s Green Port strategy.

Mike Dawson has been appointed as People and Corporate Services Director. From his previous roles, including Group HR and Corporate Services

Director at Dale Farm, Dawson brings a wealth of experience in developing progressive HR policies and procedures, and will drive Belfast’s Harbour’s commitment to nurturing and attracting diverse talent.

Kevin Ryan's appointment is as the new Development Director, which follows a previous position with Dublin based international property company, Hines, where he was Development Director for 6 years.

Prior to this Ryan was Head of Property for Tesco Ireland. His depth of experience will support Belfast Harbour and partners in realising ambitions around future growth, enabling the organisation to continue to stimulate and grow the regional economy.

Published in Belfast Lough

New appointments at the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company have been confirmed by the ferry operator.

Brian Thomson has become the new Managing Director. A maritime leader with a wealth of experience and knowledge, he will officially begin in the role on 5th July.

With a Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering background, Brian began his professional career with the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. He relocated to the Isle of Man in 2014 to work as a Surveyor for the Isle of Man Ship Registry and, in 2019, was promoted to Principal Surveyor.

Brian recently led the Isle of Man Government Ill Code Compliance Project.

The second appointment at the Steam Packet is Kane Taha in the role of Operations Director.

A former Marine Manager with the Company, over the past six years he has broadened his maritime experience in Dubai as both a General Manager and a Chief Marine Specialist for the Dubai Government Road and Transport Authority.

He will take up his new post on 19th July.

Chairman Lars Ugland said: ‘On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome both Brian and Kane, two highly motivated and experienced individuals who will ensure continued stable leadership and growth.

‘The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company impacts on every facet of Island life and this is truly an interesting time in our history with many exciting projects on the horizon.

‘I am sure their contributions to the business will be invaluable going forward and we wish them every success in their new positions.’

Published in Ferry
Tagged under

#irishports - Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Shane Ross, has appointed two new directors to the board of the Port of Waterford Company following a competitive process managed by the Public Appointments Service.

Waterford Live writes, William Johnston and Derry O’Sullivan will join the existing board members Joe Dreelan; Louise Grubb; John Kehoe; Mary Mosse; Frank Ronan, CEO and Des Whelan, chairman.

Mr Johnston recently retired as a partner with Arthur Cox Solicitors where he specialised in banking law, capital markets and regulation. A board member at the National Maternity Hospital and the Housing Finance Agency, he is a former chair of the Law Society’s Business Law Committee and former co-chair of the Banking Law Division at the International Bar Association.

To read more on the appointments, click here. 

Published in Irish Ports

Esailing & Virtual Sailing information

The concept of e-sailing, or virtual sailing, is based on a computer game sailing challenge that has been around for more than a decade.

The research and development of software over this time means its popularity has taken off to the extent that it has now become a part of the sailing seascape and now allows people to take an 'active part' in some of the most famous regattas across the world such as the Vendée Globe, Route du Rhum, Sydney Hobart, Volvo Ocean Race, America’s Cup and some Olympic venues too, all from the comfort of their armchair.

The most popular model is the 'eSailing World Championship'. It is an annual esports competition, first held in 2018 and officially recognised by World Sailing, the sports governing body.

The eSailing World Championship is a yearly competition for virtual sailors competing on the Virtual Regatta Inshore game.

The contract to run the event was given to a private company, Virtual Regatta that had amassed tens of thousands of sailors playing offshore sailing routing game following major offshore races in real-time.

In April 2020, the company says on its website that it has 35,000 active players and 500,000 regattas sailed.

Virtual Regatta started in 2010 as a small team of passionate designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs gathered around the idea that virtual sailing sports games can mix with real races and real skippers.