Captain Mike Brew bows out this week after more than 30 years in charge of the island’s ports.
The director of harbours took up his present post in 1998, having started out at harbour master in Ramsey in February 1982 before moving to Douglas as operations manager in 1995.
Brought up in Peel, he joined the Merchant Navy for 12 years. He said: ‘I always wanted to join the Merchant Navy. There were a lot fishermen in my family and some went away “deep sea”.’
Not long after he was appointed harbour master in Ramsey, there were seamens’ strikes on the Steam Packet lasting 10 weeks altogether, bringing disruption to ferry and freight services - an event that had a lasting effect on the island’s lifeline sea services.
Captain Brew said: ‘It highlighted the need to have a reliable and regular ferry service. The debate from those strikes led in 1995 to the user agreement.’
The merits of that agreement, which gives the Steam Packet sole use of the linkspan at Douglas harbour in return for guarantees on fares and service frequency, continue to this day. Mr Brew said: ‘It has its shortcoming, it isn’t perfect but it has delivered what it set out to do.’
He is retiring at a time when another attempt is made at introducing competition on the island’s sea services. He said: ‘Sea services for the island are absolutely vital. Competition works when there is sufficient room in the market.’
Mr Brew said another major change had been the creation of marinas at Peel and Douglas, whose popularity have exceeded all expectations. ‘I grew up in Peel and have to pinch myself. It’s a smashing place.’
Airport director Ann Reynolds is to take on harbours as well on an interim basis.
