#NewDirector - Wales’ biggest port, the Port of Milford Haven, has appointed a new head of operations for Pembroke and Milford Docks, tasked, among other roles, with bringing new business into the port.

Natalie Britton is the new Director of Operations and Commercial at both the ports located in Pembrokeshire. The director will take on the responsibility in running of key areas including Wales’ biggest fishing port - Milford Fish Docks, and Milford Marina. In addition to heading up the largest ferry terminal operation in south Wales at Pembroke Port and developing plans for increased cargo throughput at the port.

“Natalie is a great asset to our team,” said Chief Executive Alec Don. “She has a great deal of local port knowledge having worked both for one of our past customers, Murco, and more recently at Svitzer, one of our key partners delivering port towage services. Hers is a critical role that really can help to deliver the Port’s strategic goals, shaping the future of the port. The Port of Milford Haven is one of the UK’s biggest ports - it handles more seaborne trade in oil and gas than any other.

The chief executive added, “However, exciting opportunities exist within the areas of Pembroke Port, Milford Fish Docks and Milford Marina which, with the right support, could create over 1,500 additional jobs across both sites. High on the list of priorities will be working with partners to improve infrastructure links to Wales’ biggest port. Natalie’s role includes attracting new opportunities, such as renewable energy manufacture and increased cargo throughput, to Pembroke Port, and working with our sales and marketing team to grow the marina and support the regeneration of the fishing industry in Milford Docks.”

Commenting on the appointment Natalie said “This is a great challenge at a very exciting time for the Port. I have spent most of the last decade working by the Haven and know how great a role global economics plays in defining this port’s future and the economic prosperity of the local area. Our challenge is to adapt and evolve and I look forward to leading that challenge head on, and getting stuck into the exciting projects we have planned for the docks in both Milford Haven and Pembroke Port. We are looking to grow the business and work collaboratively with local businesses”.

Natalie is also a keen leisure user of the waterways and looks forward to working with the team to develop the commercial side of the Haven in her new role.

#PlaceOfRefuge - European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) together with all maritime industry stakeholders, the European Commission and EMSA co-signed a joint declaration to express their support for the recently adopted EU Operational Guidelines on Places of Refuge.

The declaration took place during an event in the European Parliament on Wednesday organized by Gesine Meissner, MEP and President of the Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas (SEARICA) Intergroup of the European Parliament. Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, also joined the conference as a way to support the initiative.

The guidelines are the result of the joined effort of Member States authorities, the Commission, EMSA and the maritime industry who have been working together for more than three years within the framework of the Co-operation group on places of refuge. They aim to enhance the communication and cooperation between the relevant authorities in the Member States in situations where a ship in distress requests a place of refuge, and also to streamline the decision-making process.

The guidelines have and will be further tested during dedicated exercises. As such, they are seen as a living document that can be further improved to incorporate lessons learned.

Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO Secretary General  said,“We fully support these guidelines. Time is the most important factor when dealing with a ship in distress. These guidelines will certainly help shortening the decision making process and avoid loss of time. The guidelines are a living document. We are looking forward to continuing the work on them, together with all stakeholders involved. We are happy that the cooperation group will also work on issues related to insurance, liability and compensation for ports accommodating a ship in distress. Bringing more clarity in these issues could certainly further facilitate the decision-making process”

#RoughRide - Uncertainty about China’s economic performance and slowing trade growth will make 2016 a difficult year for shipping executives, according to one leading analyst, although he highlighted India as one possible bright spot if the Modi administration can deliver another year of strong growth, while Europe and Japan are also “potential positive stories” this year.

Peter Sand, Bimco chief shipping analyst, said all eyes would be on China this year as its leaders struggled with slowing economic growth. “This is mainly because of uncertainty surrounding the development of the world’s second largest economy,” he said. “When the first day of the Shanghai Stock Exchange of 2016 closed prematurely, the trading results echoed around the world. It warned us that we are in for a rough ride in 2016.”

Sand said the slow-down in China was echoed in emerging economies across Asia, South America and Africa. “China has in recent years spurred growth in emerging and developing markets, and as economic growth slows down for China as the main engine, so it does for others who normally benefit,” he said.

To read more from LloydsLoadingList.com on what Bimco has to say on the global shipping scene, click here.

#Waterford - The Port of Waterford Company has announced increases across all categories shipped in to and out of the port at Belview in 2015.

There was a 10% increase in tonnage of bulk cargoes in 2015 compared to 2014. The number of containers handled was up by three per cent on the previous year while total throughput at the port grew by eight per cent to 1.58m tonnes. In all, 415 cargo vessels arrived at the port in 2015, up 3.75% on 2014.

In addition, the port welcomed 16 cruise ships during 2015, providing a further positive economic spin-off for Waterford and the wider southeast as thousands of passengers took shore excursions to visitor attractions across the region.

Commenting on the 2015 figures, Frank Ronan - CEO at the Port of Waterford Company since October – said: “Reflecting the improving macroeconomic situation, we are satisfied with the results achieved last year while obviously now focused on 2016 and beyond.

“For this year, a priority is to further grow our container business. We are also working on an overall masterplan for future development at the port in Belview and this will underpin significant opportunities for growth. We are also very positive about the prospects for regeneration of our former hub at Waterford’s North Quays in partnership with Waterford City & Council and other stakeholders.

“The port is well positioned to benefit from the Irish economic recovery which continues to gather momentum and the team here are committed to identifying and leveraging every possible inbound and outbound trading opportunity.”

#ShippingReview – Jehan Ashmore reviews the shipping scene over the last fortnight where among the stories are outlined below.

Dublin Port posts record year for cargo in 2015, where trade growth year-on-year was 6.4% and total throughput was 32.8 million gross tonnes.

Also experiencing positive growth last year the Port of Cork & Bantry Bay Port reached a total of 11 million tonnes. Total trade traffic for Cork reached 9.8 million tonnes while Bantry Bay Port Company recorded 1.1 million tonnes in 2015, slightly down on last year.

P&O Ferries close the seasonal Larne-Troon route following a comprehensive reviews of its options.

d’Amico Tankers Limited (Ireland) sold the Cielo di Salerno for US$13,000,000. The 36,032dwt handysize product tanker was sold last month to SW Cap Ferrat Shipping LLC based in the Marshal Islands.

The Baltic Dry Index plunged to a record amid signs of slowing economic growth in China that’s also hurting the nation’s stock market.

#RatesTumble - The cost of transporting commodities, plunged to a record amid signs of slowing economic growth in China that’s also hurting the nation’s stock market, reported Bloomsberg.com earlier this month.

• Measure falls to 468 points, lowest since it began in 1985
• Slowing Chinese economic growth seen causing rates to slump

The Baltic Dry Index, a measure of the cost of transporting commodities, plunged to a record amid signs of slowing economic growth in China that’s also hurting the nation’s stock market.

The index retreated 1.1 percent to 468 points, tumbling below a previous record low set in December. Rates declined for all except one of the vessel types monitored. China moved to support its sinking stock market after a $590 billion sell off as state-controlled funds bought equities and the securities regulator signaled a selling ban on major investors will remain beyond this week’s expiration date, according to people familiar with the matter.

While movements in stock markets aren’t directly correlated to shipping rates, both respond to movements in the nation’s wider economy. Growth in China slowed to a 6.9 percent pace last year, the weakest in decades, and will decelerate again this year and next, economists’ forecasts compiled by Bloomberg show. The nation accounts for about two in every three iron ore shipments, the most important cargo for owners.

For more on the global shipping slump and to keep track of further developments, click here and from The Baltic Exhange markets.

Afloat.ie adds to learn more on how the shipping industry works, click the above footage about The Baltic Exchange market, widely regarded as the world's leading source of independent maritime data compiled by a global panel of shipbrokers.

Such information is used by shipbrokers, owners, operators, traders and charterers to assess dry bulk and tanker markets. In addition the maritime data is used as a settlement tool for freight derivative trades, for benchmarking physical contracts and as a general indicator of the bulk market's performance.

#dAmico(Ireland) - d’Amico International Shipping S.A. operating in the product tanker market, announced that its operating subsidiary d’Amico Tankers Limited (Ireland) sold the m/t Cielo di Salerno last month.

The 36,032dwt handysize product tanker built in 2002 by STX South Korea, was sold to SW Cap Ferrat Shipping LLC (Marshal Islands) for a consideration of US$ 13,000,000.

d’Amico Tankers will maintain the commercial employment of the products tanker, having also concluded with the Cap Ferrat Shipping, a three year time charter agreement at attractive rate. This according to d’Amico will allow to keep the optimal level of their fleet.

Also owned by d’Amico Tankers Limited fleet are 50.8 double-hulled tankers (MR and Handysize product tankers) with an average age of about 7.8 years (of which 25.3 owned vessels and 25.5 are chartered-in vessels).

d’Amico Tankers Limited has also a total of 12 newbuilding product tanker shipbuilding contracts, which include 3 MR, 3 Handysize and 6 LR1 vessels, with South Korean shipyard, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd.

#PortScholarships - The Port of Milford Haven, south Wales have awarded to four students with scholarships which will see them receive a financial award, plus a four-week work placement.

Bethan Rogers, Hannah Taylor, Isabel Harries and Guto Harries successfully applied to the UK’s top energy port for the four scholarships worth £1,500 each. Bethan is from Tenby and studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Portsmouth.

Hannah is from St Florence and is in the first year of a Chemistry degree at the University of Bristol.

Isabel comes from Robeston West and is in her final year at the Royal College of Music and Guto, who is from Clunderwen, is studying Geography at the University of Bristol.

The students were put through their paces by a selection panel consisting of Head of Safeguarding and Learner Services at Pembrokeshire College Maxine Thomas, Head of Education at Pembrokeshire County Council Kate Evan-Hughes and the Port of Milford Haven’s Senior HR Advisor Susan Harding.

To be eligible for the scholarship scheme, students must have spent the majority of their education in Pembrokeshire and be enrolled on an undergraduate course at a British university.

Maxine Thomas said “I have been privileged to be a member of the Port’s scholarship panel for the last four years. During that time I have been very impressed by the calibre, skills and academic portfolios that the applicants possess".

She added "The opportunity presented by the scholarship to the undergraduates of Pembrokeshire is phenomenal, not only in monetary terms, but also more significantly through the placement opportunity provided. Winners of the scholarships have seen the value of this and have indeed derived considerable benefit from it.”

The students will begin their work placements in the summer when they will experience the diverse range of activities and operations that take place at Wales’ largest port.

#ShippingReview – Jehan Ashmore reviews the shipping scene over the last fortnight where among the stories are outlined below.

The World's largest pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessel, Höegh Target, with a capacity for 8,500 car equivalent units departed Dublin Port in late December.

President Michael D Higgins signed the Harbours Bill into law on Christmas Day, the first time a President has signed legislation in to law on that day.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has requested more details as it assesses Dublin Port's plans to dump 10 million tonnes of "seabed material" in the Irish Sea off Howth.

Dundalk Port could soon be controlled by Louth County Council following the signing of the Harbours Bill by President Higgins.

#IMDOreview -The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) latest Weekly Market Review has among the following stories as outlined below.

Irish Maritime News: HSA Publish New Code of Practice for Health and Safety in Dock Work. On Monday the 30th of November, the Health and Safety Authority published ‘Code of Practice for Health and Safety in Dock Work’. This new Code of Practice was written by the Health and Safety Authority in consultation with representatives from the Irish ports and docks sector.

The Code applies to commercial ports and dock premises, harbours and canals where goods and passengers are transported, handled or held for the purpose of loading or unloading ships.

Global Maritime News: Shipping Indices Perform Badly in 2015 as World Trade. Growth Underperforms Shipping Indices have performed badly this year as world trade has remained subdued. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), which reflects spot rates for container transport from Shanghai to the rest of the world, has declined by as much as 47% so far this year.

New Canal Branch of Suez Canal: The new canal branch of the Suez Canal, inaugurated last August, has generated revenue of $1.4 billion during the last three months. During a press conference on Wednesday, Mahmoud Rizq, a member of the board of directors of the Suez Canal, noted that the canal has accomplished revenue of $4.3 billion during the past 10 months, which is equal to 32 billion Egyptian pounds.

For more on the above stories and other news items, click the IMDO Market Review (Week 49) here.

In addition to further dedicated coverage visit Afloat.ie's Ports & Shipping news.