PROMINENT UK maritime figures are among those recognised in the Queen’s new year’s honours list.

Doug Barrow, a former chief executive of Maritime London and director of the UK Ship Register, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to the maritime sector and to the City of London.

Mr Barrow started out as a deck officer and went on to a 30-year career in marine fuels. He was founding chairman of the International Bunker Industry Association and has held numerous leadership roles in the industry as well as the City.

He told Lloyd’s List he was “honoured and humbled” to be included.

“I am delighted that others have also been recognised for their contribution to the sector, especially this year when our thoughts are with so many impacted by Covid-19,” he said.

“My grateful thanks to friends and colleagues who nominated me and I hope that I can continue contributing in the future.”

Another MBE went to Forth Ports senior harbour master Ashley Nicholson, the first female president of the UK Harbour Masters Association and the UK’s youngest certified harbour master, for her services to women in the maritime sector.

Chris Shirling-Rooke, chief executive of Mersey Maritime, has also been made an MBE for services to the maritime sector. Under Mr Shirling-Rooke, the Liverpool-based not-for-profit outfit has helped support collaboration between UK maritime clusters, the government and trade groups.

“I’m delighted and humbled to accept this incredible honour on behalf of the team at Mersey Maritime, my board of directors, our members, and our entire maritime ecosystem here in the North West,” he said in a statement.

John Murray, who retired in February as chairman of the Society of Maritime Industries, was honoured for services to the maritime sector by being made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Seabed User and Developer Group chairman Peter Barham received an MBE for his services to the sector over a 45-year career, while The Medusa Trust chairman Alan Watson got an OBE for services to maritime history.

In Scotland MBEs went to Port William Inshore Rescue Service chair George McKenzie, for his services to Scotland’s maritime sector, and to Fiona Symon for services to maritime heritage.

Peter Elmont, chair of the Weston-Super-Mare branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, was made a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (the BEM) for charitable services to maritime safety.

The BEM also went to Edward Nuzum, for his services to the RNLI and to maritime safety in Cornwall, and to Sandra St Louis-Kandapah, a maritime officer at the Department for Transport, for her services to diversity, inclusion and charity.