Lerwick Port Authority appoints new Chief Executive

Lerwick Port Authority’s Sandra Laurenson, and her successor-designate as Chief Executive, Captain Calum Grains, with the cruise ship, Le Laperouse, in the background during another record-breaking season for the Shetland port.Captain Calum Grains is to succeed Ms Sandra Laurenson as Chief Executive of Lerwick Port Authority when she retires in November after more than 40 years' service.The management changes at the Shetland port are announced by the Authority following its August board meeting.Ms Laurenson joined the then Harbour Trust in 1975 and held various roles before becoming Deputy General Manager in 1998, renamed Deputy Chief Executive in 1999 when the post was created, and Chief Executive in 2007 - believed the then only female chief executive of a UK port. She is a past chairman of the Scottish Ports Committee of the British Ports Association and is nominated by the Port Authority to a number of external directorships.“I am delighted that Calum is succeeding me as Chief Executive, with all the benefits of continuity to such an interesting job. He will very much enjoy, as I have, the support of a great team at the port, as well as that of all the customers who keep the ‘top port’ going,” she said.A Harbour Pilot at Lerwick from 1997-2000 before leaving to take his Master’s ticket, Captain Grains returned to the Authority as Deputy Harbourmaster in 2003. Promoted Harbourmaster in 2007, he also became Deputy Chief Executive in 2014. He is a council member of UK Harbour Masters’ Association and a board-nominated director to various companies.Both he and Ms Laurenson are Executive Board Members. Further management appointments will be made later.Board Chairman, Ronnie Gair, said: "Sandra has made a remarkable contribution to the port's operation and development, and so to the Shetland economy, over more than four decades. Her input in recent years includes leading the latest major expansion of facilities, which underpin future activities across key sectors, and overseeing development of the port’s role in offshore industry decommissioning and the cruise sector.""Calum already has a proven track-record with the Authority and the experience to continue the port's evolution in the marketplace and infrastructure, including the current construction of a replacement white fish market and projects in planning.Lerwick Harbour – Britain’s ‘top port’ as the most northerly commercial harbour in the country – is a leading centre for the fishing, oil and cruise sectors and for Shetland's lifeline ferry services to the Scottish mainland for freight and passengers.Source: https://www.lerwick-harbour.co.uk/new-chief-executive-Ben