Capt Geoff Holland
A lifelong sailor who has held various jobs on an array of ships from ferries through to cruise liners, and bulk and container vessels, Captain Geoff Holland has also helmed several massive UK ports including Felixstowe and London Thamesport.
These credentials, along with a three year stint as harbour commissioner for Brightlingsea Harbour and a term as chairman of the UK Harbour Masters’ Association, armed him with good chance of bagging the job as Dartmouth’s Harbourmaster when the role came up last year.
Following an extensive interview process, Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority board offered him the role and Geoff moved down in February to work on the “beautiful” river he first fell in love with eight years ago while holidaying in the South Hams.
“I said at the time “This would be a lovely port to be harbourmaster of,” the 47-year-old recalled.
“Circumstances changed in my life and I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity when I got offered a job here to take up the role.
“It’s a great privilege and a lovely place to work; I can’t knock it at all, it is beautiful down here.
“I look out of the office every day and even if it’s raining, it’s still pretty.”
Geoff was brought up in Brightlingsea on the east coast where he enjoyed sailing and watersports.
He went though college on an apprenticeship with P&O Containers and started a life in the Merchant Navy, travelling the world with a variety of companies.
“I ended up working for probably one of my favourite companies, called Swires in Australia, working in Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Islands which was great fun.”
Deciding to move back to the UK, Geoff joined the cruise ship company Saga followed by the Stena Line Ferry company.
“I was working in various offices right through to master. It gave me a great grounding for different types of cargo ships, so I’ve got a fairly good basis with which to become a harbour master.”
While working for Stena Line Geoff became a voluntary harbour commissioner for Brightlingsea Harbour.
“It was much the same as being a Dart board member; you are in charge of the port marine safety code and the implementation of it to make sure the harbour is running safely, and working with the harbourmaster to achieve this.”
He also sits on the Merchant Navy Welfare Board looking out for the wellbeing of all seafarers.
Deciding he wanted to work ashore, Geoff joined one of the biggest port operators in the world, Hutchinson Ports.
He was appointed harbourmaster for Harwich International, Felixstowe Port and London Thamesport.
“Felixstowe at the time was probably the biggest container terminal in the UK, bringing in some of the biggest ships in the world.”
Seven years later, Geoff was appointed harbourmaster of Tilbury where he was involved in the creation of the UK’s newest port, Tilbury2 which opened in May last year and is the country’s most modern and biggest unaccompanied freight ferry terminal.
“That’s some career,” I say.
“I’ve been around the houses a little bit,” Geoff laughed.
“I like to think I’ve got a very good background with sailing and leisure activities, but also I’ve got my head screwed on when it comes to running a harbour and know what’s required both commercially and for the leisure users as well.”
What’s it like to go from running huge container and ferry ports to managing the River Dart from the weir at Totnes to the harbour in Dartmouth? I asked.
“It’s actually comparable. You’ve got the job that’s out on the water but a lot of the paperwork which you do in the office, like emergency plans and port waste management plans - all the regulations and stuff that you have to have in place - is all very similar and still has to be in place and that’s a big part of my job.
“You are coming from mega ships down to yachts but I’m dealing now with one-and-a-half thousand yachts whereas before I was dealing with a handful of ships that came in every day, so it is different and it is a different way of managing something.
“It is still a busy job and you are rushed off your feet.
“Every day there is something different, it’s not a mundane job.”
As Covid restrictions ease, safety on the water is Geoff’s number one priority.
“We are trying to get some signage put up at all public launching sites along the river in conjunction with the RNLI, to advise people on safe practices such as wearing life jackets, emergency telephone numbers and rules of the road.
“We are going to get a lot of people that aren’t familiar with the area coming down wanting to put their paddleboards, kayaks and jet-skies into the water.
“We need to make sure that people understand what they can and can’t do, for everyone’s safety.”
What for the future of the river? “I have got ideas of what I’d like to take forward but I will put those to the board for discussion and the board will then decide if they think they are valid and possible.
“It’s really only been a month since I’ve taken up the reins and then trying to get to know everybody and what happens and how in the harbour.
“It is a great privilege to be given the opportunity to work here and I hope I get to meet everybody on the river and everyone gets to meet me.”
First published in By The Dart magazine in May 2021
