Montrose Port Authority has welcomed a new Chairman, Vice-Chairman and two Board members as it looks to build upon recent successes and pursue its long-term diversification strategy for the future.

Current Vice-Chair Peter Stuart will take the reins from outgoing Chairman John Carmichael who is retiring after 11 years on the Board, three of which were spent as Chair. Peter will be supported by Hamish Watt as Vice-Chairman, and the addition of two new members, Tom Brighton and Harry Knox.

Peter Stuart has been a Board member since 2015 and has had a 40-year career in the Oil & Gas sector, the past 13 years of which have been in an advisory and executive management capacity with Private Equity firm SCF Partners. He is currently a non-executive director with Score Group, headquartered in Peterhead. 

Hamish Watt joined the board of Montrose Port Authority in 2016. He has lived and worked in Tayside for most of his life and is familiar with the commercial and industrial activity throughout the east coast of Scotland. 

New to the Board in 2020, Tom Brighton has lived in Montrose since 1978, attending Montrose Academy before commencing a 36 year career in the oil and gas industry, working around the world initially in the service sector before spending 23 years working for operating companies Total, BG Group and finally Shell.  He now works as a part-time independent consultant to the international energy sector.

Harry Knox has been involved in the offshore shipping industry for over 20 years initially sailing as an engineer onboard diving support and pipe laying vessels before moving into vessel management onshore in 2007. He is currently Managing Director with V.Ships Offshore in Aberdeen and has the responsibility for their global offshore ship management operations, covering offices in Brazil, Monaco, Singapore and the UK.

Chairman Peter Stuart stated, “I am delighted to have this opportunity to take over the Chairmanship and would like to thank outgoing Chairman John Carmichael for his hard work and dedication to the Port for the last 11 years. I have very much enjoyed working with him, and I am sure that I speak for everyone at the Port in wishing him well in his retirement.

“I am also pleased to welcome our two new Board members, Tom and Harry. They both bring with them a wealth of relevant experience and knowledge and will no doubt play a big role in helping us to steer the direction of the Port going forward, and also in developing the strategies we need to keep us at the forefront of our sector. 

“This is a hugely exciting time for Montrose Port as we look to the future and how best to maintain and grow our existing energy support business, while at the same time making the most of the opportunities in the burgeoning Renewables and Decommissioning markets.”

Montrose Port Authority has operated as a Trust port for nearly 200 years. In that time, the Trust Board has used its wide range of knowledge and experience to steer the management and development of the Port into the 21st century Port that can be seen today.

The Board brings a wide range of management and specialist expertise to Montrose Port, and all trustees share the fundamental aim to maintain, improve and develop the Port.

In 2019 the Port was selected as the Operations and Maintenance base to support the Seagreen Offshore Wind farm. This 25 year commitment from Seagreen will ensure ongoing investment and redevelopment of existing facilities in line with Montrose’s remit as a Trust Port.