NewsJuly 2017

Extraordinary new imageshave given a clear picture ofa mystery wreckagediscovered in the shiftingsands of the Severn Estuary.

Bristol Port’s hydrographicteam were excited tocapture these images lastmonth during a routinesurvey of the Harbour Area,using their state-of-the-artvessel Isambard Brunel.

One theory was that it couldbe a cargo vessel calledThe Brunswick, which isrecorded as having gonedown in the same area,outside the harbour’snavigation channel. Theimages show a vesselaround 65m long by 9mwide with a bridge midshipsand a likely cargo hold onthe foredeck.

Emily Hand from the Port’sMarine Department, said:“From research, there is achance it may have beenThe Brunswick, which is thesame size and transitedbetween

Is this the 117-year-old wreckage of ‘The Brunswick’?

The colours show relative depths below the surface of the water. The bridge of the vessel (in red) is shallow at 5.5 m. The sand bank beside the wreck (in yellow) is 7.5m below the surface.

between Liverpool andBristol. But there is no wayto know for sure as manyother vessels could fit thesize and shape of this wreck.We have contacted HistoricEngland to see if we canfind out more about thiswreck from their records.”

Historic England this weekconfirmed that it is verylikely to be the steam shipThe Brunswick, which wentdown on Christmas Eve in1900, sadly claiming sevenlives after being caught upin dense fog.

Marine experts from thePort first saw the wreckwhen the dynamic Estuaryenvironment granted a clearimage during a routinesurvey last month.

A second site visit by thePort Marine team suggestsits secrets maybe safe forsometime to come asshifting sands and sedimentare close to submergingand protecting it again.

influence

Royal Navy warship hosts major businesses in the West

NewsJuly 2017

Bristol Port was one of aselect group of regionalbusinesses given rare accessto the Royal Navy’s top frigatethis month.

HMS Somerset berthed atAvonmouth and held a specialevent for business leaders todemonstrate its capabilities.The Type 23 Frigate has beenprotecting UK interestsglobally for more than 20years and in 2016 was namedthe Royal Navy’s top frigateafter it played a key role in anoperation which seized thelargest haul of illegal drugs inthe UK. As part of HMSSomerset’s security patrolsshe has also been required toescort Russian vessels in UKwaters twice in the past year. HMS Somerset berthed at Avonmouth Docks during its visit in which it hosted regional leaders

Commander Tim Berry saidthe Port visit felt like ahomecoming. “It wasespecially poignant being soclose to the county that givesthe ship its name and alsowhere I call home, havingbeen raised in SouthSomerset,” he said. “I feelincredibly honoured to be partof the heritage that Somersethas forged with the RoyalNavy and was pleased towelcome our affiliates, andshow my team the best thiswonderful county has tooffer.’’

David Brown, CEO, was joinedby other key business leaders,including Chris Milton,Offtrade and Export SalesDirector for Thatchers Cider.

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The Port’s ‘fastest boat on wheels’ raises £2,000

NewsJuly 2017

Pictured about the support team of Bristol Port. Picture right WraightsMate.

The British Grand Prix at Silverstonemay have been touted as the blueriband motorsport event of lastweekend. But a team from BristolPort, and a 4,000-strong crowd,would insist the real action was atPortishead, with the first everSoapbox Race in the region.

Eighty teams took part, raising fundsfor St. Peters Hospice. The Port wasa sponsor and the machine enteredby the team was a sight to behold.Known as ‘Wraight’s Mate’, thesoapbox blended scrap metal,plywood and a quad bike intosomething resembling a tugboat.And it wasn’t just the vehicle thatlooked sharp. The lead driver wasPort apprentice Connor Collins,dressed as Olive Oyl. He wassupported by Popeye and his sailors,otherwise known as Joseph Williams(apprentice), Derek Healey(motorshop

(Motorshop manager), GlennCallaghan (Assistant Motorshopmanager) and Jon Genge (Finance).

After a blistering test run, the time forthe first heat suffered due to a brakeissue. However the Port’s brilliantmotorshop team worked hard in thepits to elevate them into the top ten.

Next page: Wraight’s Mate in the making

Going to press, final heat times wereto be announced. But the Port wasproud to win the ‘Official BestDressed’ award on the day and alsosurely boast the fastest boat onwheels! The biggest prize for all, wasthe knowledge that over £2,000 wasraised for the hospice by the Port.

influence

It’s alive! The story behind the Frankenstein soapbox

NewsJuly 2017

Derek Healy, Motorshop manager, tells how oldjunk was turned into a new fundraising opportunity.

“The initial design plan was to create a cart that looked abit like a Tugboat so it would correlate with it being aBristol Port team behind it. The Tug itself is a bit of aFrankenstein’s monster! We were donated a dead quadbike that we used for the front and rear axle, the chassisis made from completely donated steel and welded inhouse by Burgess Marine. With the body, it is made fromplywood which was kindly donated by InternationalPlywood. All other parts have been donated or comefrom recycled material from around the Port, so it hascost a grand total of £0.00 to build but has now raisedover £2,000 so far!”

The tug is called ‘Wraights Mate’ in tribute to latecolleague Steve Wraight. All funds raised from the eventgo to St. Peters Hospice. To donate, please visithttps://www.portisheadsoapbox.co.uk/single-post/2017/03/27/St-Peters-Hospice---Our-2017-charity

How scrap metal, a quad bike, plywood and teamwork put the Port on the streets of Portishead

NewsJuly 2017

Army visit

The commissioning of a newmulti-purpose workboat, theGraham Robertson, was markedwith a special ceremony lastmonth attended by the son of thelate council leader.

The workboat, a customisedShoalbuster 2308S, will be usedprimarily for dredging in the lockentrances, further enhancing thePort’s in house fleet which ensuresafe and efficient passage of shipsthrough both docks.

It is named after GrahamRobertson, OBE, who as leader ofthe city council in the 1980s andlater the Lord Mayor, was one ofBristol’s most influential figures.

Official commissioning of versatile new workboat

Haven Master Jerry Stanford makes an official presentation to Paul Robertson.

Managing Director Sir David Ordand Chairman Terence Mordauntattended the ceremony and madea poignant speech about howGraham recognised the benefit inmaking Bristol Port a privately runenterprise, especially to boost anumber of jobs to Bristol.

Haven Master Jerry Stanfordmade an official presentation toGraham’s son Paul, before takingeveryone on board for a tour ofthe vessel.

The workboat joins Gordano andColliter, to boost afloat capabilityand provide the modernequipment required to maintainthe dock efficiently.

South Bristol Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair

Far East impressed by West

The scale of the Port’s grain exports and the quality ofvalue-added services including blending and millingwere admired by international delegates this month.The 21st International Farm Management (IFMA)Congress, which includes experts from USA andAustralia, began their month long tour of key UK sites atRoyal Portbury Dock. The visit was arranged by IFMAcommittee member Richard Cooksley, who made awelcome return having spent 12 years as AgricultureBulk Shed (ABS) Managing Director. The congress wereimpressed by the scale of the bulk sheds and details ofhow Bristol Port has achieved a record 718,000 tonnesof grain exports in the last year.One export destination is Japan, and earlier in July theJapanese Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foodvisited the Port as part of a discovery tour about the UKsupply chain. Dignitaries reported back their admirationfor the scale of operations and the services such asblending and milling.

Grain operations impress global experts

NewsJuly 2017

Read more: this month’s ‘Day in the Life’ talks to James Reeson, ABS Trade Manager

News in briefJuly 2017

Columbus tours around the worldBristol Port attended Cruise and MaritimeVoyages naming ceremony for their newflagship, Columbus, last month at the LondonCruise Terminal in Tilbury.The cruiser, which can carry up to 1,400people, has an exciting year ahead as shesails to Cuba, Central America and theCaribbean. At the start of 2018, in the truetradition of her name, Columbus sets off onan around-the-world trip. She is the latestaddition to the CMV fleet, which also includesMS Marco Polo and MV Magellan, both ofwhich sail from Bristol Port in coming months.Chris Coates, Commercial Director at CMV,said: “When we introduced Magellan to ourfleet two years ago, I said it would be a gamechanger for us. Indeed it has been, and nowwe begin a new chapter as we proudlyintroduce our new flagship Columbus.”

Customers and suppliers thanked for support

The annual customer event at Bath Racestook place last month and gave the Portan opportunity to thank suppliers andcustomers for their support in 2017.

It was a lower key event after last year’s25th anniversary celebrations, but theatmosphere proved Bristol Port still has alot to celebrate looking ahead to thefuture.

The Port helped to support the releaseof a Peregrine Chick back into the wildafter if was found injured under the M5bridge. A search located the bird’s neston the other side of the bridge, past therail line, on Port land. After being treatedby a vet, the Port’s ornithologist, whoconducts surveys in the docks, helpedwith the release of the bird.

Rescue mission for stricken Peregrine chick

The Port’s Martin Downey with Nicola Walker from Cronus Logistics

. Picture of the month

GalleryJuly 2017

This month’s image was sent in by Police Constable Eddie Weeks.

The unfiltered image was captured on one of Eddie’s shifts at 04:55am. “This was taken near berth 7 and was just before an electrical storm. I couldn't believe the colour of the sky so had to take a picture,” Eddie said.

Staff & CommunityJuly 2017

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Bristol Port took part in an annual charityfootball tournament last weekend forcompanies involved in the motor trade.Organised by Chris Chaney of Gefco 4PL,who are responsible for the Vauxhall carimports into the Port, the event was playedin Luton and featured 12 teams, with fundsraised going to the local food bank. Veteranstriker John Aldom rolled back the yearswith some classy goals for the Port team,who competed well but did not make thefinals. The tournament was won by STVA,who beat BCA in the final.

There’s nothing like the great outdoors, andthanks to the Port, children from AvonmouthPrimary School can now explore it in allweather conditions. The Port has donatedcolourful splash suits to the school whichgot the thumbs up from these children. LucySalahi-Ali, who is Mum to three year oldAmir, said “The suits not only look great butmean they can go out and explore, which ismuch better than being stuck inside aclassroom. Amir loves wearing his!”

Splashing out: new suits

Port’s goals for food bank

Pupils from Shirehampton Primary School weretreated to a behind the scenes tour to discoverthe wide range of jobs at the Port. The children(and teachers) were amazed to learn aboutPort operative careers but also roles as carmechanics, nurses, accountants, webdevelopers and engineers. Polly Barnes, theorganiser of the ‘My Future, My Choice’initiative taking schools out to look at differentindustries said: “It was an inspirational tour - thechildren definitely got a lot from the day.’”

Apprentices of the future?

Staff & CommunityJuly 2017

Get your diary out and put The Goram Fair in it! Thisyear’s event will be held on Saturday 9th Septemberat Blaise Castle Estate.

Last year saw Bristol Port join in with the game ‘It’s aKnock Out’ and the fun continues this year with craftworkshops, trails, a vintage funfair, gourmet food,pony rides and a chance to meet the giant.

The Goram Fair, named after the mythical giantGoram, was a local fixture from 1954-1996. But havingdisappeared in recent years, organiser Darren Moorereintroduced it to bring the community back togetherfor a celebration. As planning for the day comestogether, Darren and the team are looking forvolunteers to help on the day. If you would like tohelp, please contact darren@goramevents.co.uk

Goram ‘giant’ fair returnsThe Port was proud to play its part inanother highlight in the local calendar, theSummer Fest at Avonmouth CommunityCentre, on Saturday July 22.

More than 250 locals attended andshowcasing the Port was Police ConstableTony Moore, whose vehicle, complete withPort Police livery, was the centre of muchattention.

Tony said: “It was a great day, lots ofcommunity fun with activities for everyone.The children loved exploring the police car,touching the sirens and asking what eachbutton did. They were fascinated by thebullet proof vests, handcuffs and batons.”

Unexpected visitors taking an interest in thePort Police included a trio of dogs dressedup in mock jail outfits saying ‘Guilty’.

The event also featured a large papermodel of Avonmouth village and the Portcreated by the Forgotten Landscape groupwho celebrate the heritage of the LowerSevern Vale Levels.

Port contributes to Summer Fest success

Staff & CommunityJuly 2017

Responding to the top queries we receive on a daily basis

Jeff’s IT Corner

Why is my computer going slow?Over the course of a day’s work you may find you have quite a few programs open.For instance, Outlook, Word, Ops Database, and PDF reader. There are many otherprograms running behind the scenes including system processes and antivirussoftware. There’s only so much that can fit in the memory before things start toslow the PC down and even sometimes cause it to crash, so remember to closeprograms you are not using, and reboot the PC occasionally to clear down thememory being used. This will help.

Why won’t my new password be accepted?We apply simple but effective rules to ensure that passwords are sufficientlycomplex to secure the business. The rules are:• Your password must be at least 8 characters long;• Your password must contain at least one UPPERCASE letter, number or symbol;• You can’t use any part of your name in the password;• You can’t re-use any of your last three passwords.

Why do I keep getting asked to download Windows updates?As the recent ransomware attacks you’ve seen in the newsmake clear, PCs need to have the latest security patchesapplied to protect them from hackers. There are regularWindows update cycles and you should get a pop-upnotification when your PC is ready to reboot after the updateshave been installed. Please do not ignore the notifications,which look like this:

The Shipping ForecastJuly 2017

Shipping highlights for the month• Discharging and loading containers

into RPD and Avonmouth including MSC Koroni

• Bro Deliverer discharging petroleum products in Avonmouth

• Weaver Arrow discharging general cargo into RPD

• At least 25 car carriers into RPD including Iris Leader, Theben and Tiger

• Ionik Unicorn discharging animal feed into RPD

• Hosanger discharging forest products into RPD

A day in the life of… James Reeson, Agriculture Bulk Shed Trade Manager

A Day in the LifeJuly 2017

Mongol rally adventure

What did you want to do when you were a child?I wanted to be an accountant. I didn’t reallyknow what direction to take but believed agood living could be made in this area.

Describe your role?My role is to manage all aspects of our feedand grain imports and exports.

What’s the first thing you do every day?I check vehicle numbers across all our sites,making sure that vehicle loading has startedefficiently.

How long is a standard day?About 9 hours.

What is the best thing about your job?The diversity. Every day is different. One day Ican be working out how I am going to fitshipments in, the next I might be showing aFarm Management Association ourprocesses.. Either way it keeps me on my toes.

And your least favourite thing about your job?Dealing with heated cargo. The lingeringaroma doesn’t go down well with the family.

Most interesting thing that has happened in yourrole?Seeing grain exports in the year 2015 and 2016through RPD reach a record 718,000 tonnes, andwith that seeing our team performingexceptionally well to handle such a largeincrease.. I was also pleased with the successfulintroduction of the largest single blender in theUK to G Warehouse at Avonmouth Dock.

Who has been your inspiration since working atBristol Port?In my first few weeks with the company as a 20year old, I was shown around the stores by ourDutch operations manager Alexander Van DerHieden.. Seeing him run up stacks of feed in hissuit (with PPE on) was kind of concerning,certainly for his dry cleaners. However hispassion and enthusiasm for the operationrubbed off and gave me basis to succeed in thefuture.

Health and SafetyJuly 2017

Please note that the inspection colour isORANGE. All equipment that has this colour issafe to use and has been inspected bycompetent persons. Any equipment which isnot the correct colour must be withdrawn fromuse immediately and returned to the gear store.

Loose lifting equipment

The Welfare Committee had its first evermeeting this month and began its work toassess all the Port’s Welfare facilities, andprioritise any actions, to achieve highstandards over the coming months.

The Port also successfully hosted theSevernNet Health and Safety peer-to-peergroup this month.

The terrible tragedy at Grenfell Tower in Londonhas given everyone cause to reflect on their firesafety procedures, Here is a reminder of what todo in case of a fire on the Port Estate or any Portbuildings.

• Proceed to the designated fire exits whenhearing the fire alarm, only using stairs andnever elevators. If you discover the fire makesure you sound the alarm and call 999 asyou continue to exit the building.

• As you leave the building close all windowsand doors behind you as this will prevent thefire from spreading quickly. When opening aclosed door, check its temperature byplacing the back of your hand against it. Donot

Fire Safety Tips

not open a door which feels hot – it mayhave a fire behind it, and the flames willquickly enter the room you are in. Warnothers you see and help them exitelsewhere as long as this does not pose animmediate threat to you.

• If there is a large amount of smoke, stayclose to the ground. Smoke rises meaningthe air is cleaner close to the floor. Byplacing a wet cloth over your mouth you canrestrict your intake of smoke as it will act as afilter. In all situations stay calm and act fast.

• Once out, proceed to the designatedassembly point which should be at least20m away from the burning building. Take aregister or a head count to make sure no oneis missing. If you do have a missing personunder no circumstances should you re-entera burning building, wait for help to arrive.

• Evacuation is always necessary. If a fire isclose to your building, still evacuate as firecan spread very quickly if it is not controlled.Once evacuated stay out of the building inthe designated safe zone until the firebrigade give you the all clear to re-enter.

Commitment to safety and welfare

We are searching for apprentices!If you’re keen to learn and ambitious to build a greatfuture, these exciting opportunities are perfect foryou...

Engineering Apprenticeship

Bristol Port are looking for people interested inundertaking a four-year apprenticeship in eitherMechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering withone of the UK’s most technologically-advanced ports.

Successful applicants will gain a variety of new skillsand follow a sponsored programme leading to a Cityand Guilds qualification, which will include attendanceat College. A minimum of five GCSEs at Grade C orabove are required, two of which should be in Mathsand English.

Candidates will be expected to start at the end ofAugust 2017, in order to commence academic trainingin September.

You will start on a basic salary of £11,053 per annum(approximately £212 per week), which will rise annuallyon an incremental scale.

You should be physically fit and have a good head forheights. A flexible approach to work is important – youwill be expected to work shifts as you gain experience.

Port Operations Apprenticeship

You will develop a solid foundation for a career thatcould see you quickly rise up the ranks, just as long asyou’re willing to put in the hard work. In fact, many ofour operations managers started off as apprentices.

And of course, as you progress, so will your earnings.You’ll start on a basic of £12,700 pa, which will rise toover £26,000 once you’ve successfully completed thetwo-year apprenticeship and one-year trainingprogramme.

With strong numeracy and literacy skills, you should bephysically fit, have a good head for heights and a fulldriving licence. A flexible approach to work is importanttoo, as you’ll be working shifts including regularweekends and nights.

So if you’re ready to take the first step towards a terrificfuture, we’re waiting to hear from you.

To apply please contact our reception desk on0117 982 0000 during office hours, or e-mailpersonnel@bristolport.co.uk and ask for anapplication form.

CareersJuly 2017