Captain Ian Niblock is a Master Mariner with 48 years marine industry experience.  He completed an apprenticeship as a marine pilot in Liverpool (UK) prior to gaining considerable experience as a ship’s officer on various cargo ships including Very Large Crude Carriers.  Ian was a pilot at the Port of Tauranga in New Zealand for eight years during which time he obtained a Graduate Diploma in Business (Port and Terminal Management) through the Australian Maritime College.

He was the National Operations Manager for the Maritime Safety Authority of New Zealand for five years prior to being appointed as Regional Harbourmaster for Northland where he was responsible for 17 harbours for 11 years.  He was also a pilot in the Bay of Islands during this time.

Ian was appointed Darwin Harbourmaster in 2010 and took up the position of General Manager Operations in 2012 where he manages all marine operations.  He graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2014.  Ian is appointed as a Port Management Officer and Port Enforcement Officer and is responsible for the oversight of the port’s Biosecurity Approved Arrangements.

Ian contributes a strong operational background to the Port’s leadership team with skills in vessel operations, pilotage, port operations, dangerous goods transport and general management.  He also has considerable experience in marine emergency response management having been incident controller during some high-profile international incidents.