Alastair Gardiner is set to steer the Port of Larne to a new era with his appointment as Managing Director of Larne Harbour Limited.
Taking up the challenge from Denis Galway who has retired after 15 years at the helm, Captain Gardiner is no stranger to the port operations, having joined the company in 1987 as Harbour Master/Operations Manager. He has held the role of Deputy Managing Director since 2001.
Alastair Gardiner comments: "The Port of Larne is one of the major roro ports in the UK and Ireland and has a reputation for efficiency and a high quality service. We have first-class port facilities and an unswerving commitment to provide a reliable and efficient customer service. The challenge for the future is to continue to develop the port facilities to enable our existing customers to expand their services and to attract new customers to the port."
Larne’s location enables it to offer the shortest sea crossings to and from Great Britain on the Larne-Cairnryan service. With P&O’s state of the art ships, customers using the Port of Larne are guaranteed that they are travelling on the shortest fast route anywhere on the Irish Sea. The access to and from the port will be enhanced by major improvements to the A8 road network that are taking place. The A75 and A77 in Scotland are due to be upgraded which will further improve access to the port of Cairnryan.
Despite the present economic downturn the Port of Larne has seen an increase of 7% in freight traffic volumes in 2003 while passengers also confirmed the Port of Larne as their number one choice with an increase of 4.6%. As Mr Gardiner adds: "Our figures prove that the Port of Larne is the first choice for both commercial and tourist traffic and our task is to continue to increase traffic flow through the port."
Mr Gardiner will be assisted in his role as Managing Director by Captain Trevor Wright who has been appointed Harbour Master of Larne Harbour Limited. Captain Wright has worked at the Port of Larne since January 2002 as Assistant Harbour Master.
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Notes to Editors: For further information contact Sharon Toner, 028 2887 2182.