LONDON: Staff at Portsmouth International Port are preparing to welcome Mike Sellers as new Port Director, following Martin Putman’s decision to retire after 28 years at the Port. Mike has spent the last 20 years working for Associated British Ports, most recently as port manager at Grimsby and Immingham. Born into a family of dock workers in Hull, his entire career has been dedicated to shipping. Mike has held senior roles at a number of ports in East Anglia and Humberside.
Mike Sellers replaces Martin Putman, Port Manager for the last 21 years. Martin started out as Assistant Harbour Master at Portsmouth International Port in 1988, having previously worked at the Port of Felixstowe following a successful career at sea. Since arriving in Portsmouth Martin has overseen important changes to the business, and has been responsible for several multimillion pound investments in new facilities to benefit ferry, cruise ships and cargo operations.
Speaking about his new role at Portsmouth Intentional Port, Mike Sellers 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. As well as being responsible for all shipping operations the council also owns MMD (Shipping Services)Ltd, one of the UK’s leading handlers of fresh imported fruit and vegetables.
Donna Jones, Leader of the Council said ”Portsmouth City Council attracted a really strong field of candidates for the position of Port Director to succeed Martin Putman on his retirement. I am delighted to announce that Mike Sellers has been appointed. Mike has extensive experience in the sector, most recently as Port Manager for the ports of Immingham and Grimsby. Mike had been with ABP since 2002, encompassing Operations Manager at Lowestoft and Deputy Port Manager roles at Ipswich and Hull and Goole. Prior to that Mike spent ten years working for an independent stevedoring company. Mike will be visiting the Port during the autumn and will officially commence employment with Portsmouth City Council in November.’
Most recently Mike Sellers has been heavily involved in the development of the Immingham Renewable Fuels Terminal, the world’s largest biomass handling facility. 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.”
