The recruitment process has ensured that all of the teams remain at full strength, able to continue to provide high-quality surveys and dredge support.
All three locations use modern Reson multibeam equipment to provide the highest quality survey and charting services, with very rapid processing and delivery times. ABP was therefore looking for the highest quality candidates with a good knowledge of survey techniques and modern equipment; the ability to learn rapidly; and, perhaps most importantly, the personality and enthusiasm to integrate with the busy and professional marine teams at each of its ports.
Maik Weidt, formerly Hydrography and Charting Officer at Trinity House, was appointed as Port Hydrographer, Southampton. Maik holds a degree in geomatic engineering from Hamburg City University and worked initially in research where he used GNNS techniques for shelf ice monitoring. Following that he worked on a variety of hydrographic survey projects nearshore / offshore in the UK and overseas.
Commenting on his appointment Maik, who will manage a team of three working to survey and ensure maintenance of safe depths in the UK’s number one cruise port, said: “I am very excited to join the marine department in the Port of Southampton. Safe port operations for all port users, customers, and seafarers are paramount. The team and I will be focussing on providing up-to-date charted information, required passage depths, and full availability of all our aids to navigation.”
Three junior surveyor vacancies were all filled by recent graduates from the south coast including Becky Hampshire, who also joined the team in Southampton after completing a four year undergraduate master’s degree in oceanography (MSci Oceanography) at the University of Southampton. Becky said: “For me the main appeal of surveying at ABP is that you get to be involved with the entire process of collecting data, processing it, and finally creating a chart from your findings, whereas in many other organisations you can only be involved with one of these stages.”
Naomi Hyland was appointed to the team in the North West, based at the Port of Barrow. Naomi completed a master’s degree in marine resource management at the University of Southampton before joining ABP. She said: “I am excited about becoming a hydrographic surveyor at ABP’s North West Ports as the role is very varied, with work being carried out for four different ports and sometimes beyond. Everyone has been very welcoming and I look forward to starting my career with ABP.”
Tom Humphries joined the busy team of surveyors responsible for the Humber Estuary, based at the Port of Hull. After completing a degree in marine sciences at the University of Portsmouth, Tom took a post in the data team at ABP Marine Environmental Research (ABPmer) before moving to the hydrographic department at the Port of Hull. Tom said: “The prospect of working on such a large and varied estuary – as well as the chance to move back to my home town – was a key factor in my decision to take up the post.”
William Heaps, ABP Assistant Marine Advisor & Hydrographic Manager, welcomed all four to ABP: “We were lucky to attract a lot of interest in all of our recent vacancies, allowing us to select excellent surveyors to fill all of the posts. The business of port surveying is never dull, with new challenges to be faced every day. I am confident all of our new colleagues will rise to those challenges, and enjoy working with ABP to help keep our ports safe for our customers and port users.”