Who are we?

Chris Moorey OBE, Head of Maritime

Chris Moorey joined the Royal Navy in 1981 and spent the next couple of decades serving in a variety of Fishery Protection Vessels, Frigates and Destroyers. In 2006 he joined HQ British Forces South Atlantic Islands as the Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence and Current Operations. Returning to the UK in 2008, he worked in Navy Command Headquarters before escaping to the Indian Ocean to take up the roles of British Representative and Commander British Forces in the British Indian Ocean Territory, between early 2010 and early 2011.

Further overseas tours then followed, first as the Defence Attaché at the British Embassy in Manama, Bahrain, between 2011 and 2014, followed by a further 3-year assignment as the head of the Current Operations Maritime Section within “Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO”, based in Lisbon, Portugal. His final assignment in the Royal Navy before leaving the service in late 2021 was as the Naval and Air Attaché, Ankara, Turkey. He was appointed OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021. Chris took up post as Head of Maritime Authority in September 2022.

Steuart Barlow, Harbour Master 

Stu knows the Falklands and South Georgia waters extremely well, having worked on board the fishery patrol vessel MV Pharos SG since 2006. Starting as 3rd Officer and working his way up to Chief Mate, a post he has held for 7 years. He has experienced many of the unique challenges faced by mariners in our waters first hand. His seagoing life began in 2000 since when he has worked on various vessels including passenger ferries (conventional and fast), Multipurpose cargo vessels, Superyachts, PSV's, Fishery Protection and tug boats. 

He volunteered for 12 years as Lieutenant with the Sea cadets in Malta and the UK. 

He gained his Masters in 2019 and has been working for the Falkland Islands Maritime Authority since 2022

Nomali Port, Deputy Harbour Master 

Mally is a qualified Chief officer with a backround in container vessels for over 5 years. For 3 years she worked for the South African Maritime Safety Authority as a ship surveyor where her duties included examination of seafarer certification, Port and Flag state inspections. With Mally's surveyor experience, she is an asset to our team here at the Falkland Islands Maritime Authority. Mally has been working for the Maritime Authority since 2022.

Frank Hart, Assistant Harbour Master

Frank joined the Royal Navy in 1979 and after professional training joined HMS Invincible as the Captains assistant secretary on a promise of a round the world voyage!  However as we know other events took place and he was part of the liberating task force for the Falklands.  He then joined the submarine service before leaving in 1987.  

After the Navy Frank then became a Coastguard and served all over the UK as a SAR mission commander for 17 years.  On leaving the Coastguard he joined the Port of London Authority as a Port Controller where he currently serves in Woolwich in south east London.  Frank has also just retired from being a volunteer lifeboat crewman after 20 years at Tower Lifeboat Station in central London which has the distinction of being the UK’s busiest station, having just passed 10000 launches in 21 years!

He is married to Joy, a retired police inspector and lived in Suffolk where he enjoys lawn bowls.  

Frank Essen, Assistant Harbour Master

Under sponsorship from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Frank completed his Merchant Navy Officer cadetship at Warsash Maritime Academy.

On qualification with an unlimited STCW license, Frank was promoted to Third Officer and served as OOW and Point Defence Officer on replenishment tankers and stores ships around the globe. He is experienced in liquid cargo, seamanship and navigation in addition to his knowledge base in aviation, amphibious and counter-narcotic operations. On promotion to Second Officer, he spent a busy year generating a mine hunting support vessel as her Navigation and Operations Officer. 

Leaving the RFA after nine years service and fourteen seagoing appointments, Frank joins the FIMA team with a view to broaden his maritime knowledge. 

In his spare time, Frank volunteers with various humanitarian NGOs and been involved with clinical care, refugee support, NEO and supply chain projects in the UK, France and Poland whilst regularly instructing on disaster response courses. 

An avid cycle tourer and hiker, he'll be looking to explore all the islands have to offer.