As is tradition when christening a new ship, a godmother is chosen to carry out the honours and retain a lasting connection with the vessel.
The godmother of the Emerald Duchess is Sue Green, chosen for the role in recognition of her years of service in the Harbour Master’s Office at Teesport – a role which puts her at the heart of the river community.
Sue joined PD Ports in 1982 as a word processor operator in the typing pool at Queens Square head office.
She was seconded to the Harbour Master’s Office a short time later as clerk, gaining a permanent position in 1985.
Sue will celebrate 42 years with PD Ports next month, during which time she’s made the role of Harbour Master’s secretary her own.
She says: “I’ve been able to develop the role of secretary into what it is today, it’s a total change from what it was 40 years ago.
“It’s so varied, there’s never a day the same. On a basic level I provide secretarial support to the Harbour Master and his team but really I do all sorts of things, it’s a very reactive role.”
Asked how much had changed in her 42 years working on the river – starting in the old Harbour Master’s Office in Tees Dock before its move to Middlesbrough in 2018 – Sue said: “The river still flows in and out, just as it always has.
“Most of the change has been regards to the businesses on the river – we had the Shell Refinery and the steel trade was in its heyday. A lot of the terminal operators have changed over the years. I’ve seen new vessels arrive in Conservancy in the time I’ve been here and those that have reached the end of their working lives in the Port and sailed into the sunset.
“I’ve really, really enjoyed it. That’s why I’m still doing what I’m doing and it’s the people that I work with, it’s just a lovely place to be.
“It’s an honour to be named godmother of the Emerald Duchess and I look forward to seeing her out on the river and knowing I have that connection to her.”
Frans Calje, chief executive officer at PD Ports, said: “It’s fantastic that Sue has agreed to be the godmother of the Emerald Duchess. As one of our longest serving members of staff, it’s an opportunity to recognise all that Sue has done at the Harbour Master’s Office and to serve the river community.
“Her commitment to the river mirrors what we want to achieve with the Emerald Duchess, providing stability and strength to the Tees and its community.”
