Milford Haven Port Authority’s strategic capabilities

Source: Supply Chain Digital

Date :22/04/2008 09:43:34

As the Port of Milford Haven celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is seeing expansion on all fronts. Exec speaks to Ted Sangster, the Port’s CEO about the future.

Written by Jane Fisher and produced by Paul Radbourne

Milford Haven is set to play an even greater role as one of the country’s strategic energy ports in future. Later this year, the completion of two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities will mean that a potential 30 percent of the UK’s gas requirements will be processed through the port.

With 20 percent of the country’s petrol and diesel provisions already being handled on the waterway, Milford Haven is soon to become the new energy capital of the UK, says chief executive of the Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA), Ted Sangster.

“As the terminals build up their operation over the next two to three years, we should see an increase in our revenue and profits,” he says. “But the catalytic effect of having these LNG terminals here in South Wales will be the boost it gives the local economy through jobs and all the spin-off and supply services that are created.”

Growing steadily

MHPA was established by an Act of Parliament in 1958. Today it is one of more than 100 trust ports in the UK, required to comply with governmental standards, and to make a profit. In 2007 MHPA saw an annual turnover of £18 million, an increase of £2 million on 2006.

“We are growing steadily,” said Mr Sangster, who has been CEO since 1998, coming to the organisation from his post as director general of the British International Freight Association and previously having spent 20 years in the ferry industry, with companies such as Caledonian MacBrayne, Sealink and Stena.

The first oil refineries opened in the town in the 1960s and by the 1970s Milford Haven had become the leading oil port in Britain and the second largest in Europe.

Today it supports three oil terminals - two refineries and one storage tank…

April 22, 2008