New port director at Portsmouth

Former port manager at Grimsby and Immingham Mike Sellers has been named as the director of Portsmouth International Port.

Sellers replaces Martin Putman, who is retiring after 28 years at the port, and 21 years as port manager.

Putman started out as assistant harbour master at Portsmouth in 1988, having previously worked at the Port of Felixstowe following a successful career at sea. While at Portsmouth, Putman has been responsible for several multimillion pound investments in new facilities for the ferry, cruise ships and cargo operations.

Sellers has worked for Associated British Ports for the last 20 years, as well as managing the ports at Grimsby and Immingham. Born into a family of dock workers in Hull, he has also held senior roles at ports in East Anglia and Humberside.

He said: 'I am tremendously proud to be offered the position of port director. Portsmouth International Port has an excellent reputation within the port industry, is Britain's best connected ferry port and I am very much looking forward to building on Martin and the team's work to continue to deliver growth and success for the Port, our customers and the city as a whole.'

Portsmouth International Port is owned and operated by Portsmouth City Council, which owns fresh produce distributor MMD Shipping Services.

Council leader Donna Jones said the position “attracted a really strong field of candidates”. “Mike will be visiting the port during the autumn and will officially commence employment with Portsmouth City Council in November,' she said.

“He brings with him experience of a wide range of shipping knowledge, his last port overseeing the movement of 50 million tonnes of cargo each year.”