Shaun’s Story

Ensuring an effective & well-managed operation

Shaun Telford

  • Position: General Manager
  • Site: Stanlow Refinery

Can you give us a general overview of what services the Briggs Marine OGTO sites offer?

Briggs Marine’s Oil and Gas Terminal Operations (OGTO) Division provide a variety of services to clients across the oil, gas, and chemical sector, from major refineries, to storage facilities and road loading terminals.

The services offered to larger oil refineries include complete ship to shore interaction, supplying Berthing Masters, Loading Masters and Mooring Services. The operation of bulk liquid importing, exporting, loading and storage takes place at waterfront locations as well as road and rail loading terminals.

The Company provides line running vessels, work boats, transfers, and safety boat services to its clients in the Oil and Gas Industry. In addition, Briggs Marine also supplies maintenance teams and mechanical servicing for floating mooring points, jetties and fendering at waterfront areas, as well as pumps, valves and linework throughout all other areas surrounding the terminals.

Operating in such a niche segment of the Energy Sector, Briggs Marine uses its extensive knowledge of the industry to provide bespoke training courses and competency assessments to its employees, clients and third parties.

How long have you worked at Briggs Marine?

I have worked at Briggs Marine since the company took over operations at Stanlow Refinery four years ago.

What was your first position within the Oil and Gas Industry? How did this role evolve to the point where you were promoted to GM?

I started from the bottom and worked my way up. My career began at Stanlow Refinery in 2005, working as an ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security) driver and Mooring Assistant. This involved mooring ships and driving the minibus which transported the ship’s crew and visitors within the refinery. In 2006, I was promoted to Jetty Operator before progressing onto the full shift team and achieving my first position with Briggs Marine as a Shift Supervisor.

As a Shift Supervisor, I oversaw the waterfront team at Stanlow and Tranmere Oil Terminal. I then became the Operations Manager in 2018, and in 2019 I was asked to take on the inland terminal contracts at Kingsbury and Northampton, when both terminals became joint ventures for Essar Oil UK. Then, in 2020 I was offered the role as General Manager.

What will be required of you now that you are GM?

I will be required to continue the support the various managers and employees that Briggs Marine have within the UK by providing a safe, efficient, and adaptable service to its clients.

This is an extremely busy time within the Energy Sector, not only is there uncertainty linked to the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and the beginning of Brexit, but we are also undertaking our race to net zero emissions. With the UK Governments recent announcement to further reduce the targets for greenhouse gas emissions, I am looking forward to supporting Briggs Marine in providing its services to its clients in a more sustainable way, with the transition to cleaner fuels and energy.

What challenges have you faced and how, now as GM, would you approach these challenges and try and create solutions?

In addition to the invaluable support given to me by my General Manager, I have been able to apply the skills and knowledge that I have developed throughout my time working within the Industry and with Briggs Marine to any challenges faced thus far. With my own experience and continuous personal development, I hope to help others find their own solutions and to help them learn from their own experiences.

The best way to ensure an effective & well-managed operation is to care about the people and to care about the services we offer.

“I started from the bottom and worked my way up. My career began at Stanlow Refinery in 2005, working as an ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security) driver and Mooring Assistant”

Shaun Telford, General Manager