Meet our expert: Amy Morse
As Vessel Agent Team Leader, Amy connects people, ports and vessels to keep operations moving smoothly through the port of Southampton and the wider EMEA region. Whether it’s congestion, weather disruptions or altered cargo loads, Amy and her team have the solution.
Meet Amy
I’ve been with the company for the past seven and a half years. I began my career in the Finance department, before transitioning into Vessel Services as the terminal’s first Operations Analyst. In that role, I worked with both cargo and financial data to develop key performance indicator (KPI) reporting and drive operational efficiency.
As Operations Analyst, I was also involved in several key projects, including cargo pre-staging initiatives, procurement and roll-out of new equipment, and the reintroduction of Customs Control activities for export cargo at the terminal.
I moved into my current role as Vessel Agent Team Leader at the end of 2024. This position allows me to bring together my operational and analytical experience while leading a team and continuing to develop my career in a new direction.
Connecting people, ports and operations to keeping vessels moving
Ports are highly complex environments, and our role as agents is to bridge the gap between all involved parties. We ensure that vessels move safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption, providing essential coordination and oversight.
By anticipating challenges such as congestion, we can take early action to improve vessel efficiency—not just within Southampton, but across the wider EMEA region.
For our partners, we act as a central coordination point, ensuring alignment between all parties involved. This can range from supporting captains and voyage operators to coordinating service providers delivering spare parts or even facilitating access for specialist activities such as filming crews.
Ultimately, our value lies in our ability to connect people, manage complexity, and ensure smooth, efficient operations for everyone involved.
To every problem, there is a solution
Challenges can arise in many forms. For example, in recent months we have experienced frequent weather disruptions across the UK and the English Channel, which have caused delays in previous ports and created knock-on effects for Southampton operations. Another challenge we typically encounter is changes in vessel drafts due to altered cargo loads.
When facing challenges, our approach is always collaborative and solution focused. Whether it involves adapting to last-minute changes or adjusting plans to maintain operational flows, we always work closely with the relevant stakeholders to find the right solutions.
To succeed as a Vessel Agent, communication is critical. This applies both internally – working closely with operations teams – and externally, coordinating with captains, voyage operators and other stakeholders.
Furthermore, ensuring that the right people are informed about delays or changes, such as vessel arrival times, minimizes disruption and avoids unnecessary costs along the way.
Through regular meetings with the port authority, we get a broader overview of port activity and capacity. This helps us stay informed about potential challenges, reduces the likelihood of surprises, and ensures better coordination across all parties involved.