A senior Royal Navy commander is joining the board of Mersey Maritime in a huge boost to Liverpool city region’s £5bn maritime sector. Tony McDonough reports

Senior Royal Navy commander Commodore Phil Waterhouse is joining the board of Mersey Maritime which represents the city region’s £5bn maritime sector.

Commodore Waterhouse is the Naval Regional Commander for Northern England and the Isle of Man. As such he is the First Sea Lord’s Ambassador for the region with the task of ensuring that the work of the Royal Navy is understood, respected and valued by the community it serves.

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Mersey Maritime chief executive Chris Shirling-Rooke said: “It is an immense honour for us to welcome Commodore Waterhouse to the Mersey Maritime board. This is the first time we have been joined by a senior member of the Royal Navy. He is someone who has been a great friend and supporter of Mersey Maritime since his arrival in the region.

“The Royal Navy has been one of our strategic partners for a number of years. We have been pleased to partner with them for a number of key events, including when significant naval assets have been on the Mersey. These include our country’s most important vessels HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

“Many of the values that are so important to the Royal Navy fit within the ethos of Mersey Maritime. I have no doubt Commodore Waterhouse will prove to be a major asset to our maritime ecosystem.”

Commodore Waterhouse joined the Royal Navy as a junior sailor in 1982 and was promoted to the officer corps in 1988. He served in a variety of senior seagoing and shore roles before taking up his current post in 2017.

He added: “The driving ambition of the Royal Navy is to protect the interests of the country on the global stage, just as Mersey Maritime seeks to represent and support the diverse maritime industry here in the Liverpool city region and the greater North West.

“In my role as Naval Regional Commander, I seek to build relationships and collaboration whenever possible in promoting the work of the service to a broad cross-section of stakeholders and organisations.

“Having the opportunity to contribute to the work of Mersey Maritime is an ideal fit for my ambassadorial role in the region. I look forward to having a positive impact on the activity and governance of the organisation.”