Chief executive of Maritime London awarded honorary degree

Former Warsash Maritime Academy cadet and now Chief Executive of Maritime London, Doug Barrow, was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Maritime Studies by Southampton Solent University on Thursday 19 November.

On receiving his award, Barrow said: “Huge thanks to the Academic Board of Southampton Solent University for conferring on me this most unexpected doctorate.”

Educated in Nigeria and the UK, Barrow joined the Merchant Navy as a deck cadet with Cunard Brocklebank Ltd in 1968 and attended the University’s Warsash Maritime Academy (formerly Warsash School of Navigation).

He served aboard dry cargo, container ships and tankers and qualified as Second Mate before becoming a petroleum surveyor working in Kuwait. He then entered the marine fuels industry where he had a 30 year career working in Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the UK.

Speaking about a career within the maritime industry, he said: “It is exciting and the opportunities in the maritime sector are vast with such a range of related subjects as ship broking, law, insurance, accountancy, ship operations, bunkering, research, many more and yes, even education!”

Barrow was the founding Chairman of the International Bunker Industry Association, serving on the Council from 1993 until 2005, and is now an Honorary Member.

In 2006, Barrow was appointed Chief Executive of Maritime London, promoting the UK as the world’s premier maritime business centre. In this role he has had significant involvement with industry and government in the UK, as well as in Greece, Turkey, Korea, India and China.

He also formed Crusader Marine Ltd, to provide consultancy services to the marine and marine fuels industries and has held various other board appointments.

In 2007 he was elected Common Councilman for the Ward of Aldgate in the City of London, and in 2008 he was appointed as Ward Deputy. He serves on a number of committees and is Deputy Chairman of the Police Committee.

His mother livery, since 1988, is the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights where he is currently the Prime Warden. He joined the Worshipful Company of Fuellers in 1998, becoming Master in 2003. He is also a member of the Incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow; a Younger Brother of Trinity House; and was Chairman of City of London Sea Cadets from 1998 – 2003. He is the Deputy Gauger of the City of London for 2015/16.

He finished by saying: “… I wish all my fellow graduates every success for the future. The world is your oyster. Who knows how you will use the education you have gained? What course you will chart.”