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~ Personal Sketches of Marine Men Si: David J. Owen, General Manager, Port of London Authority By At Fry eHE Knighthood conferred upon David J. Owen, 4] general manager of the Port of London author- ity, in the 1931 New Year’s honor list is a recog- nition of the notable achievements of the re- cipient and the far-reaching importance of the duties connected with the administration of Great Brit- ain’s premier port, a post which has been described as the “‘blue ribbon’’ of port administration. In relation to trade, the Port of London authority is the most im- portant public body in Great Britain. David John Owen went to London in 1922 with a wide experience which has been invaluable to the Port authority in solving the problems of running the port through which flows more than one-third of the total trade of the United Kingdom. Educated at Liverpool institute, he served his business apprenticeship for 13 years with the Mersey Docks & Harbor board, later be- coming manager and secretary of Paul Bros., well- known flour millers of Liverpool and Birkenhead. In 1908 he went to the port of Goole as assistant manager, subsequently becoming manager of Goole docks. He left this position in 1915 to join the Port of Belfast as general manager and secretary. The period since Mr. Owen’s connection with the port of London has been one of great activity and progress. Improvements involving an expenditure of over £5,000,- 000 have been inaugurated and completed. These includ- ed the extension of the Tilbury docks and the pro- vision there of a new entrance lock capable of accom- modating the largest vessel afloat, as well as a new dry- dock; the modernization of the West India & Milwall dock systém; the passenger landing stage in the river at Tilbury; new docks and equipment at the Surrey Com- mercial system for London’s timber trade, the comple- tion of the river dredging program and many other works. Equally important have been his strenuous efforts and achievements in the direction of economy. Wherever the opportunity occurred, mechanical appliances have been HE value of having the right man in the right place has never been better demonstrated. IVEN wide powers, his manage- ment has materially lowered charges at one of the greatest ports. N DEVELOPING and improving the Port of London an example has been set for all the world. installed and operating efficiency has been effected through extensive staff reorganization. Economies have enabled the port authority to make reductions in port charges of nearly £1,000,000 per year since 1925. The improvement and lowering of charges at the port of London are of far-reaching significance. Since Lon- don serves such an enormous local market and is the world’s financial and international trade center, any Management which tends towards reduction of produc- tion and distribution costs is a stimulus to trade through- out the British empire and other parts of the world at a time when every contribution to this end is worthy of the utmost commendation. The result of the Authority’s efforts is reflected in the steadily increasing shipping traffic of the Port of London. Notwithstanding the slowing down generally of trade throughout the world, the tonnage that used the Port of London during 1930 was 58,085,598 net registered tons compared with 57,- 578,355 net registered tons for 1929, itself a record year. The value of the overseas trade of the Port of London is now well over £700,000,000 per annum. ‘‘While London is and probably always will be primarily a great cargo port, the passenger trade continues to increase,” declared Sir David in a recent survey. “Over 300,000 passengers used the port.in the year 1929. compared with 144,700 in 1921, and the new accommodation will enable very many more thousands to be dealt with.’’ He is well known in the transport world, and is a lieutenant colonel in the engineer and railway staff corps of the Royal Engineers (T. A.), a vice president of the Institute of Transport, and a member of the execu- tive committee of the Dock & Harbor Authorities’ asso- ciation. He has published several books, including A Short History of the Port of Belfast, A History of Bel- fast and The Port of London—Yesterday and Today. Al- though the Port of London is his hobby, Sir David is a keen angler and is also much interested in art, pos- sessing considerable skill in water color. He is presi- dent of the Port of London Authority Staff Arts & Crafts society. 72 MARINE REvIEw—August, 1931 OT a ETT a I TE PAY EY NPN TT ee pa SA Pe FOR OR ee SUT bee