KWL's operations manager retires

Mitchell, who started working on the port in 1970, likens the key to completing a crossword puzzle perfectly to daily terminal operations, as he believes everything has to fit accurately in the puzzle as in the execution of the task.

"If you do it for the right reason, it will come out right every time," Mitchell said. He retired on July 29.

A youngster of 20 at the time of his employment, Mitchell's first job was as a delivery clerk at Berth 5. At the time, he noted, Berth 6 was incomplete, and the Kingport Building was still under construction.

Mitchell was like a sponge for knowledge soaking up information eagerly and learning about industrial relations. He also became a union delegate in his early years on the port. He remembers benefiting from many training courses as a delegate and even serving as secretary of the Port Supervisors' Union under the leadership of the late trade unionist, Reginald Ennis.

The year 1976 was the start of major change for young Mitchell. Not only was he promoted to the position of senior clerk, but under the leadership of then general manager of KWL, Mike Belcher, he fulfilled his wish for higher education.

"Mr Belcher placed an emphasis on training and I, along with several others, was awarded a scholarship to study at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST)," Mitchell recalled.

He laughed and jokingly pointed out that since he couldn't attend the University of the West Indies (UWI), he attended UWIST.

There, he studied maritime commerce between 1978 and 1981.

On his return to Jamaica in 1981, Mitchell was seconded to Kingston Terminal Operators (KTO), which operated the Kingston Container Terminal, in the capacity of planning manager.

Promoted to operations manager

Once again, he worked under the leadership of Belcher who, by then, was managing director of KTO. Mitchell was promoted to operations manager in 1983, a position he held until 1992. He then returned to KWL to serve in the same capacity, which he held until his retirement.

As he ventures off into a new phase of his life, Mitchell reflected on many memorable experiences at the terminal. One which stands out for him, he said, was the passage of Hurricane Gilbert which saw minimum disruption of operations, despite the devastation the hurricane caused elsewhere. "We took all the precautions, tied down containers and equipment and we were able to resume operation in less than a week," he said.

Another experience he recalled was a change in the mode of operations at KTO, from the Karri-Lift brand of handling equipment to the Valmet straddle carriers.

"To change equipment type, without disruption or dislocation to the work rhythm on the terminal is a feat which redefined the way the operations were carried out," Mitchell pointed out.

Change over the years, he said, was constant with the emergence of containerisation as well as new technology and equipment. He witnessed the impact containerisation had on productivity where the turnaround time moved from three weeks on break-bulk vessels to two shifts on a containerised vessel with 10 times as much tonnage.

"The major difference in the operations now is the critical role that information technology plays in cargo handling. It's not 'brawn' driven, but 'grey matter-inspired," he said.

As he said farewell to his shipping family, he expressed the view that the foundation laid in the past and the rapport that has developed between the management and staff will serve KWL and the wider shipping fraternity well into the future.