News Release

17th October 2006

Port of Felixstowe to Hold ‘Sea Port Role Play Day’


17-Oct-2006

The Port of Felixstowe, and the Suffolk Education Business Partnership, in conjunction with the Haven Gateway Partnership, will be holding a ‘Sea Port Role Play Day’ on Thursday 19th October 2006, at Kesgrave Community Centre, Suffolk.

The aim of the day, codenamed ‘Haven Container Ports Exercise 2006’, is to make students from the Felixstowe and South Suffolk locality aware of the growing employment opportunities within the Haven Gateway, with a particular focus on the ports and logistics sector.

The Exercise will involve over 100 students, aged between 14 and 15, from nine Suffolk schools. Students will play out an imaginary scenario in which several vessels are damaged in the Harwich Haven, and they will take on the role of the eight sectors involved in the emergency response – Port of Felixstowe Emergency Services Division, Port of Felixstowe Marine & Port Services Division, Port of Felixstowe Corporate Affairs Department, Harwich Haven Authority, Johnson Stevens Agencies, Norfolk Line, Maritime & Coastguard Agency / RNLI, and Suffolk County Council Emergency Planning Services.

During the course of the Exercise, students will be required to make important decisions and to respond to ever-changing conditions that are affected by external factors beyond their control. People’s safety, customer service and logistical issues will all have to be taken into consideration, whilst at the same time ensuring that resources are managed as effectively as possible. Professionals from all of the sectors involved will be on hand to give students expert advice throughout the day.

Chris Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, which owns the Port of Felixstowe, said:

“It is vital that the ports industry does all it can to attract young people. This type of problem-solving exercise, with realistic emergency scenarios and interaction from a number of key agencies, is exactly the type of initiative that the Port of Felixstowe is keen to promote.”

He added:

“As the Haven Ports continue to prosper and expand, there will be an increasing demand for young people with the right skills and abilities. We hope that the ‘Haven Container Ports Exercise’ will serve to give them a taste of the type of exciting careers and opportunities open to them in the maritime and logistics sector”.

The ‘Sea Port Role Play Day’ is based on the model of the British Aviation Authority Role Play Day, successfully run in schools in the Harlow area, and has been adapted by the Education Business Partnership to promote the important role of the Haven Ports within the region.