A new fund has today (27th February) been announced by the Port of Milford Haven which will allow local fishermen who operate out of Milford Fish Docks to access funding for improvements to health and safety on board their vessel.
The Port’s fund is designed to support Milford Haven based fishermen in accessing funding under Article 32: Health and Safety, from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). The types of improvements eligible include investment in safety equipment and investment to improve health, hygiene and working conditions on board vessels.
“Safety is at the core of everything we do,” said Alec Don, Chief Executive at the Port of Milford Haven. “It is our primary goal, ashore and afloat, and it is important to us that organisations and individuals operating in our area do so to the highest possible safety standards. To ensure our customers do not miss out on potential funding from EMFF we decided to create a supporting fund which could provide all or part of the private funding required. We also want to encourage greater use of Milford Fish Docks, Wales’ largest fishing port, seeing it as an important asset for driving greater economic prosperity in the area.”
The Port of Milford Haven Fisherman’s Safety Fund is open to fishermen and fishing vessel owners who operate a vessel out of Milford Fish Docks. Applicants must also be applying to EMFF under measure 1.8, Article 32 – Health and Safety. Criteria and application forms can be found on the Port’s website www.mhpa.co.uk/fishermans-safety-fund/
-Ends-
Notes to Editors
Port of Milford Haven
The Port of Milford Haven is the UK’s top energy port and Wales’ busiest port handling around 20% of Britain’s seaborne trade in oil and gas. It is widely recognised in the industry as the energy capital of the UK.
The Port, along with the cluster of energy-related businesses along the Waterway, is a key driver of economic activity in Pembrokeshire, attracting inward investment and supporting over 4,000 jobs.
The Port of Milford Haven also owns and operates Pembroke Port and Milford Dock. Activities such as cargo handling, ferry operations, fish landing and cruise calls as well as a first class marina are spread across these two sites.
One of the most prominent on the West Coast, the Port is in the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the only Coastal National Park in Great Britain. It is marked as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and has many areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The Port of Milford Haven is a trust port – an independent, commercially run organisation that has statutory responsibilities governed by its Acts, to maintain and improve navigation and the provision of Port and Harbour services and facilities. Additionally, the Port provides significant financial and in-kind support to a wide variety of local causes. All profits are retained within the business to fund these objectives.
For further information, visit www.mhpa.co.uk or contact:
Anna Malloy
Port of Milford Haven
01646 696100
anna.malloy@mhpa.co.uk