Blog post: Port visit to Harwich Haven Authority

In February, PSS Skills Lead, Angela Ward visited PSS members, Harwich Haven Authority, to see some of the teams in action and discuss skills-related topics.

Harwich Haven Authority is a trust port responsible for preserving 150 square miles of the Haven. With 40 per cent of the country’s container traffic travelling through the area, there was plenty to see and hear about during the visit.

Vanessa Mann, people and culture manager, kindly hosted the visit and was joined by Lisa Johnson, people and culture advisor and Mark Avenell, pilot launch manager. Angela heard how proud the port is of its apprenticeship programme and the desire to expand the areas from solely marine apprenticeships into IT, engineering and marine pilotage.

The weather conditions were favourable, and Angela was delighted to go out on a launch to see the apprentices, Hollie and Ashley in action, involved in lifting one of the 50 buoys out of the water to clean its sensor.

The next trip was on a pilot boat, superbly piloted in and out of the harbour by Hollie, just six months into her apprenticeship, under Mark’s guidance.

During the trip, Angela heard more about the recent channel deepening project and the maintenance dredging required to ensure clear access to the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich, Ipswich and Mistley.

The tour concluded with a meeting with Sarah West, CEO to find out how PSS can further support Harwich Haven Authority and give an overview of some of the PSS work planned for this year.

Getting out and meeting members at their locations is an important part of PSS’s work, both helping us to understand our members’ needs and for members to ensure they get the most from their membership. To organise a tour of your port, please do not hesitate to get in touch.