CLIENTS AND Portnet staff alike have expressed shock at the sudden transfer away from Richards Bay of the well - liked port operations manager Glen Martin.
The announcement on May 28 came as a complete surprise to everyone. Martin has had a long and distinguished career at the port and was regarded by many as Mr Richards Bay. He has served on several committees in the region and is currently chairman of the Richards Bay Spatial Development Initiative. He moves to Johannesburg to take up a new and as yet unrevealed post from mid-June.
A number of clients of South Africa's fastest growing port told FTW they were saddened by the move. Glen Martin was well liked and admired by everybody; He was a hands-on man who got things done; It's a sad day for the port, were typical of the comments made.
Martin began his career at the port as a young engineer in 1975, rising to the post of port engineer in 1986. He was appointed port manager in 1993. Typical of his approach to clients and their needs were the highly successful annual client days held in recent years.
Following a rationalisation move about a year ago Martin was appointed port operations manager. Regional manager for Eastern Ports, Jan Jansen, confirmed the news and said that the position of port operations manager was under review, with the exception of East London The position is not likely to feature in the long term, he said. Portnet was presently reviewing organisational structures. Martin's successor would not be a permanent appointment, he explained.
Jansen said that Martin had done a good job at the port, and singled out his involvement in taking the Dry Bulk Terminal to its present position of increased capacity. A few years ago we had some serious congestion and he has addressed that very positively, he said. He also mentioned the building of new quays, the establishment of a combi terminal and the new finger jetty under construction.
BY TERRY HUTSON
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