Capt. Keith Burchell- Executive Director. Key Qualifications, Expertise and Experience:
Capt .Burchell is the holder of a Class 1 Deck Certificate of Competency, he has over 50 years experience in the maritime industry of which 9 Years was spent at sea, 21 years in Port Operations and 13 years in Port and Maritime Executive positions . Capt Burchell is at present a Senior Consultant/Project Manager and Executive Director of Burport Marine Consultancy (Africa) Pty Ltd.
Capt. Burchell is an acknowledged expert on Port Management, Port Planning, Port Marine Operations, Aids to Navigation, Vessel Traffic Systems (VTS), Vessel Traffic Management Information Systems (VTMS), Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS) and the development and production of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS)
Capt Burchell is a former Executive Director of a South African marine electronics company from 1993 to 2004 during which period he was heavily involved in the development of the AIS (Automatic Identification System) and it its inclusion in mandatory carriage requirements.
Capt Burchell spent 34 Years in Port Marine Services and Administration, Including the Management of Lighthouse Services in South Africa.
• During the period 1995-2004 he was used as a marine technical advisor to the official South African delegation to IMO on many occasions, and is a registered IMO Consultant. He is an experienced tug and dredger master, marine pilot, former port captain, marine operations manager and executive manager in the South African National Ports Authority.
• He has played a leading role in the Regional Search and Rescue Organisation (SASSAR) as well as serving in various Capacities in the local Sea Rescue (1970-2001) establishing Sea Rescue Stations in Mossel Bay and Walvis Bay, including serving as Chairman of the NSRI Training Committee 1984-1988 and as a Director of Sea Rescue NSRI from 1993-2001.
• He served as a IALA (International Association of Marine and Lighthouse Authorities based in Paris) Councillor (1994-1999) representing South Africa
• He served as Manager of Port Marine Operations and Lighthouse Services (1991-1996).
• He served as a founder member of SAGNEP (1993) (Southern African Advisory Group in Hydrography, Navigation, Environment and Pollution) and was the Chairman of the IALA Radio Navigation Conference (IALARAD1)(1995) in SA. In addition through his role in SAGNEP and other Southern African Regional Organisations has been responsible for many regional Aids to Navigation and Marine Operations initiatives during his service as IALA Councilor.
Capt. Charles Reid- Executive Director
Key Qualifications, Expertise and Experience:
Capt. Reid has over 45 years experience in the maritime industry of which 10 years were spent at sea, holding a Class 1 Deck Certificate.
He obtained a B.Com degree from UNISA in 1994.
Capt Reid is at present Consultant Surveyor /Project Manager and Executive Director of Burport Marine Consultancy (Africa) Pty Ltd.
Capt Reid’s time at sea was followed by a two year period serving as an on board Cargo Superintendent covering the Southern African coastline for both Ro-Ro and multipurpose vessels. During this period he also planned load and discharges for the Container Vessels calling on South African ports. During this period he gained invaluable insight into the operations of Ports in the Southern African region.
Capt Reid then transferred to Container logistics and spent 4 years overseeing the distribution and movement of containers in the Far East and USA operations of Safmarine.
From logistics, he joined Safmarine’s in-house NVOCC (Non Vessel Owned Container Carrier) Division as Operations and New Business Manager. Trading was carried out world wide in an intensely competitive environment.
In 2000 Capt Reid joined two colleagues to start their own independent NVOCC Cargosuite. The primary focus of the start up was the development of a quoting system in partnership with a listed IT company. Capital was raised from Banks, individuals and globally from partner companies.
Capt Reid served as Company Secretary and Director for Cargosuite up to 2003.
Since leaving Cargosuite he has been an independent maritime and business consultant engaged in a variety of marine, business and subject training consultancies.
He joined BMC in 2005 as a Director and partner and has recently been appointed Executive Director (Finance).
