Noel Dent has joined Port of Newcastle as Strategic Development Manager for the Multi-purpose Deepwater Terminal (MDT) project. 

Mr Dent brings to the port more than three decades of expertise in container shipping – including more than 20 years as ANL’s General Manager Operations & Logistics – and will be responsible for further building relationships with the key commercial stakeholders of the new terminal. 

Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody said Mr Dent was a widely respected and highly experienced executive with a deep understanding of the maritime industry in Australia and across Asia. 

“Noel understands the full gamut of maritime operations – including international and domestic shipping, logistics, operations management, container management, port management, procurement, freight, intermodal transportation, ports and terminals,” Mr Carmody said. 

“We are pleased to benefit from Noel’s extensive knowledge and experience across all international and domestic containerised shipping, particularly with Australia’s key trading partners in Asia.” 

Mr Dent said he looked forward to contributing towards a project designed to improve Australia’s international competitiveness and create economic resilience for the Hunter Region and New South Wales economies. 

“The MDT is an exciting project – I’m very pleased to be part of this, making good use of the experience I have gathered over many years in the Australian shipping industry,” Mr Dent said. 

“I look forward to working with the whole Port of Newcastle team to bring this project to fruition.” 

The announcement follows the port’s appointment in June of former WSP executive Glenn Thornton and former Aurizon and GE Renewable Energy leader Paul Brown. 

Port of Newcastle has also commenced recruitment for the Senior Project Manager for the MDT. 

Mr Carmody said Port of Newcastle continued to work towards the project, which will help ensure the resilience of the Hunter, NSW and Australian economies. 

“Subject to the restoration of a level playing field – the removal of the penalty on containers through the port – the MDT project will create cost efficiencies for businesses across NSW and underpin the diversification of the Hunter economy for a sustainable, uncontained future,” Mr Carmody.  

A HoustonKemp study conducted this year estimated the MDT would contribute $2.5 billion in economic activity across Australia, generating over 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.

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