Ambassadors

Since arriving on the Tees area in 1989, Alèxe’s contribution to the maritime sector, particularly as a seafarers’ welfare volunteer, has been exceptional. Passionate and dedicated, Alèxe has acted as a proactive member, Secretary, Vice Chair or Chair of a plethora of maritime community bodies – Tees and Hartlepool Port Users’ Association, Mission to Seafarers (North and South Tees), RNLI Teesmouth Station, German Seamen’s Mission and the MNWB Tees Port Welfare Committee. However, she is also a ‘hands on’ person who is seen regularly in the Seafarers’ Centre, serving behind the bar, driving the minibus and organising volunteer staff rotas so that the Tees centres remain open. Alèxe is a person who treats others with dignity and respect, never asking of anyone what she herself would not do. Her impact in this respect has been pivotal in the way in which seafarers are treated. Her contribution to marine industry on Teesside has been innovative, steadfast and trusted for over three decades.  She has also been involved in setting national UK standards for integrated emergency response; oil pollution prevention; port waste; training for harbour masters and pilots; vessel traffic management systems; marine safety compliance. Furthermore, her influence has ensured that the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code has been implemented in a way that does not marginalise seafarers wishing to come ashore.

Gordon is a consultant and operates in a ship borne senior leadership role as a Senior Client Representative supervising offshore operations on major offshore wind farms, oil and gas and environmental projects. Gordon is a retired Weapons Engineering Manager of the UK Royal Navy, having served a 19-year career in nuclear submarines on special operations. He has worked across multiple offshore disciplines; Marine construction, pipe, cables, topsides, bridges, UXO, FPSO, subsea infrastructure, telecom submarine cables and has undertaken projects across shallow, coastal and deep offshore project applications. Gordon is married to Sue for 34 years and has two children and two grandchildren.

Jerry is a seafarer through and through, both at sea and ashore. Starting his career with BP as a cadet, he served with BP Tankers at sea and then transferred to BP Oil as Terminal Supervisor on the Hound Point Oil Terminal. Moving to the Tees in 1979, Jerry became Assistant Harbour Master, deploying the VTS service, before being appointed  Harbour Master in 1997, a position he held for 20 years. While working for the Port Authority, Jerry was pivotal in the provision of voluntary welfare support to the wide range of international and national merchant seafarers using the port. Jerry believes that if seafarers are well cared for, they will perform their duties more safely. He comments, “I’ve always loved the sea and working near the sea as that’s what I’ve done since I was young. The Tees is a particularly friendly river, there’s an awful lot of team work that goes on and that’s what makes integration so good – you have to have fun at work, make people smile and also make them think.” Jerry’s welfare portfolio includes being Chair of both the Tees Port Welfare Committee and also of the Mission to Seafarers, South Tees, and serving the Mission to Seafarers, North Tees and Hartlepool, and the German Seamen’s Mission. He was awarded the Merchant Navy Medal in 2013 and the MBE in 2017, for his services both to the maritime industry and to the welfare of seafarers.

Martin is a Master Mariner and before retiring, was the Harbour Master for the Port of Southampton after having spent a career at sea in the Merchant Navy with over 10 years’ command experience. He also served for over 20 years in the Royal Naval Reserve, obtaining the rank of Commander and specialising in Amphibious Warfare. On leaving the Merchant Navy he joined Associated British Ports Southampton as a Pilot before becoming Harbour Master.  On retirement he now works part time for ABP as a Marine Consultant and is the Designated Person (PMSC) for several large ports.  He is also Chair of the Board’s Southern PWC. Martin, who lives in Hampshire, was elected a Younger Brethren of Trinity House in 2013 and is married with 3 grown up children.

Following an extensive seagoing career as an Engineer in the Merchant Navy, Neil came ashore and worked as a Superintendent Engineer for three years before joining the Marine Safety Agency as a Marine Surveyor in 1994 retiring as a Principal Surveyor in October 2020, after a total of 46 years in the maritime industry. Whilst working for the MCA, Neil was involved in all aspects of the MCA’s work including Flag State surveys and port state control inspections. In 2007, Neil moved to the HQ Inspection Branch and was extensively involved in implementing the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 for the UK. Neil chaired the ILO informal tripartite working group which drafted the Guidelines for Flag State Inspections and is an ILO official trainer for the ILO courses on training of trainers and Maritime Inspectors on the application of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. Neil has a keen interest in seafarers’ welfare, chairing the MNWB’s Southern Port Welfare Committee for four years and latterly was a member of the MNWB Council of Management. Neil was awarded the Merchant Navy Medal in 2015 for services to the International Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

Paul started his career as a Blue Funnel cadet, training as a navigating officer and serving on many vessel types including general cargo, container, ro/ro, and oil tankers, trading worldwide. After obtaining his masters, Paul came ashore in the late 1980s and worked for Caleb Brett, an international cargo inspecting company, mainly involved with quantity and quality of bulk liquids; petroleum products, gases and chemicals with clients throughout Ireland and Scotland. He joined ExxonMobil in the 1990s working as Terminal Controller and Supervisor at their distribution terminals in Belfast, Birmingham and Nottingham. Paul joined the Port of Larne in 2002, then owned and operated by P&O as Port Controller and assisted setting up a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) within the port. In 2006, he joined Belfast Harbour, progressing to the position of Deputy Harbour Master in 2011. Paul has been involved with the Merchant Navy Welfare Board for over 15 years and has been Chair of its N. Ireland Committee for the past six years.

Stephen is a retired seafarer – and throughout his career has fought to improve safety, culture, well-being and welfare of all who chose life at sea. From pre-sea school in Hull to a cadet ship with Houlder Brother, Stephen received a solid base for advancement through the industry, becoming a master with Maersk, Shell and Nakilat. Stephen is an active, elected member of Nautilus International General Council and knows the importance of identifying the needs and aspirations of maritime colleagues and bringing this to the attention of people, organisations and statutory bodies who can make a difference. Stephen is also a Liveryman with The Honourable Company of Master Mariners and a volunteer with ISWAN – both of which continue to give him an insight into the community from multiple viewpoints.