The team at Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority is celebrating after receiving the coveted SME Port of the Year Award – a huge achievement and recognition within the national maritime industry!
The awards, hosted by the British Ports Association (BPA), recognise and showcase outstanding performance, innovation and achievement across the UK ports sector, so the win is testament to the Harbour Authority’s dedication to the River Dart and local community.
The nominations were judged by an independent panel of industry experts, who noted “Dart Harbour was recognised for its inclusive culture and innovative ethos. The harbour has delivered a new training pontoon for Britannia Royal Naval College, refurbished ageing infrastructure and improved facilities across its local area, demonstrating how a small port can deliver significant improvements with limited resources”.
The Harbour Authority was championed by Captain Bray from Britannia Royal Naval College, who was Captain during the new Sandquay development, who said: “Access to the River Dart remains a vital part of how we deliver the absolute best training to our naval officers. As the College reframes its training around war fighting readiness, it is right that we do so from a modern and up-to-date facility.
“We could not have done it without the fantastic support of the Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority and their superb sub-contractors. They should equally be as pleased as we are with the product which will play a central part of the training of Royal Naval Officers in Dartmouth for years to come.”
The Harbour Master and CEO Paul Britton attended the Awards ceremony, which took place alongside the Association’s Annual Conference, hosted by the Port of Dover and attended by professionals from the maritime industry across the UK. He received the award on stage at the sell-out event from Richard Ballantyne, Chief Executive, British Ports Association.
Ballantyne said: “Congratulations to all the winners at this year’s BPA Awards. This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the people, teams and organisations making a real difference across the UK ports and harbours sector.
“This year’s winners demonstrate the breadth of talent and ambition within our industry, from pioneering sustainability initiatives and major infrastructure investment to outstanding leadership, inclusion and community engagement.
“Ports are vital to the UK’s economy and communities, and these awards showcase the innovation, expertise and commitment that will help our sector continue to thrive.”
Winning the SME Port of the Year Award, which was sponsored by Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, reinforces the Harbour Authority’s vital central role in the maritime industry in South Devon, consistently demonstrating its commitment to upgrading infrastructure and facilities, as well as securing the future talent pipeline of the industry by employing apprentices, alongside regular training and skills updates for its team.
John Milsom, Chair of the Dart Harbour Board, commented: “I am delighted that Dart Harbour’s achievements have been recognised by the BPA with its SME Port of the Year award.
“The award is a credit to the brilliant team that our Harbour Master Paul Britton has developed over the last few years, as well as the team’s expertise and hard work.
“The award is also testament to the support and stewardship we receive from our stakeholders and formal advisory bodies – we are always grateful for all the help we receive in managing, protecting and enhancing the most beautiful river in the world.”
Paul Britton is equally thrilled with the award. He said: I am so very proud of the team here at Dart Harbour. It is absolutely fantastic to be recognised by this prestigious award at national level.
“We constantly work hard to improve the River Dart and give access to the water for everyone, from leisure users to our vital commercial partners who use the port for trade and innovation.
“This award means a great deal to the whole team and we are all very proud. We will continue to nurture and develop the harbour with enthusiasm and drive.”
