Montrose Port Authority Welcomes New Board Members Amid Significant Strategic Growth

Montrose Port Authority (MPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to its board: Bob Bell, Claire Phillips, Colin Lawson and David Scalley. 

With extensive experience across the manufacturing, transport, engineering and oil and gas industries, the new members will help guide the port’s management and development as it enters a new phase of growth driven by its ambitious masterplanning projects. Projected to support 1,000 full-time jobs and add £47 million GVA per year to the local economy, the projects include large-scale development at both the quayside and Montrose Port Industrial Park (MPIP), formerly known as the old Petrofac fire training facility to the north of the town.

Bob Bell joins the board with a wide and varied career of more than 25 years in the energy, marine and oil & gas industry, including at Shell, BP and the nuclear site at Aldermaston. He has worked at the port since 2010, where he is General Manager of tenant Wärtsilä UK’s marine electrical division.

Claire Phillips is the founder of Nexuvo Limited UK, a strategic consultancy that partners with manufacturing and supply chain businesses to solve complex operational challenges, drive efficiency and unlock sustainable competitive advantage. She has extensive experience in the energy sector, formerly holding the position of UK Country Director at Baker Hughes.

New board member, Colin Lawson is the founder and owner of Colin Lawson Transport Ltd, one of the North East’s largest and most experienced haulage companies, which supports a wide range of clients in the offshore energy industry.

Also appointed to the board, David Scalley is the managing director of AJT Engineering Limited, a leading provider of engineering, fabrication and site services solutions, which has successfully delivered complex projects across the UK and internationally for major infrastructure, renewable and maritime clients under his leadership.

Operating as a trust port, MPA relies on the strategic insight of its board to support decision making. The new members join at a particularly exciting time as the Port Authority pursues its ambitious masterplanning projects, which include extensive quayside development, significant industrial expansion at MPIP and the restoration of Montrose’s historic Customs House, which will be home to a Skills Academy providing courses on working in renewables, particularly offshore wind, the first of its kind in Angus.

The board will additionally advise MPA as it continues to cement its place as a leader in offshore wind. The port currently acts as the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) for Scotland’s largest and deepest fully operational offshore wind farm, Seagreen. The construction of the £5 million O&M base for the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm is currently underway, with completion of the new building and pontoon due in 2027.

MPA is already renowned for its efforts in decarbonisation and sustainability, such as its innovative shore power facility, Plug Montrose, and its use of alternative fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). The board’s expertise will be vital to drive the port’s continuous pursuit of ways to embed greener practices, fuels and technologies across all operations as it endeavours to become Scotland’s first carbon-neutral port. 

Chairman of the Board, Peter Stuart, said: “We are delighted to welcome Bob, Claire, Colin and David to the board at such a pivotal time in our development. Their depth of knowledge across key sectors will be a huge asset in guiding the leadership team as they look to future proof the port through large-scale strategic development.

“I’d also like to extend my thanks to our departing members, Fiona Scrimgeour, Graham Penman, Paul Boath and Susan Smart, for their significant contributions over their tenure and the impact they have made to the port’s progress.”