Peter Richards Group CEO of Gulftainer You’ve been with Gulftainer since 1987; clearly, a lot has changed, but what stands out for you as the most significant change in this time? The last 36 years have seen tremendous improvements in so many areas of the Ports and Shipping Industry, but what obviously stands out the most are the technological advances in Port equipment and I.T. It’s hard to realize that when l first started as a Superintendent in 1987 at Khorfakkan, everything was done by hand. There was no reliable internet. There were no mobile phones. Faxes and telex were the main communication apparatus, and the “new” computers were large ugly beasts taking up most of a desk - oh my god! It really brings home how long l have been involved in this industry as one has to add the 12 years previous to my joining G.T. when l was sailing the seas as an officer on Merchant vessels carrying similar versions of the cargoes we now handle in our ports. Even after all this time, l still get excited watching the operations at our facilities. There is something magical about watching a well-operated Container Terminal discharge and load thousands of containers. The precision, timing, and fluidity of the operation are almost like a well-rehearsed dance flowing smoothly across the terminal. Now with the state-of-the-art equipment so technically advanced that it rivals the cockpits of the space shuttle, providing never before heard of speed, capabilities, and important safety aspects that allow the largest cargo vessels afloat today and in the future to be served. As people that know me well know, l am not an I.T. ‘techy’, and l am still a little in awe of what can now be done in milliseconds that used to take hours before. I.T. has transcended the Ports industry bringing greater capabilities and productivity, allowing data to be transmitted across the globe in sub-second time. Providing a customer live tracking of his cargo from when it leaves his hands to arrival at the final destination and more. He now has the ability to monitor the condition, temperature, and security of his goods throughout transit. There are no more limitations to the borders when custom clearance can be arranged from the other side of the world. It has made the world a lot smaller - in a good way. High productivity has always been one of my personal goals in whatever l do, and this has been instilled in all my Gulftainer colleagues. Over the years, l have been asked many times what makes Gulftainer as good as it is. As one of the most productive port operators in the world, my reply is always the same. There is no magic potion or rocket science; it’s purely down to our people and the pride they have in doing the best they can for their family, which is Gulftainer. It fills me full of so much pride when l see what we have accomplished from such humble origins without the glitz and showmanship of our competitors, earning the reputation of doing the most with the least. With a seagoing background and 36 years of expertise in the operation and management of Ports and Container Terminals, Group CEO Peter Richards talks with CEO Today about Gulftainer and his recent award win. CEO Today Middle East Awards 2023 - UAE - - 47 -
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