The former harbour master and operations vice-president at Port Saint John is headed to a national role.
Chris Hall has been appointed the next president of the Shipping Federation of Canada, effective Feb. 14.
Hall said he is excited about the new challenge and to remain working in the industry he has been in his whole life.
“It’s something I’m very passionate about, so to take it to a different level and be at the national level is just nothing short of exciting,” Hall said in a recent interview.
The federation represents the owners, operators and agents of foreign ships that carry Canada’s imports and exports to and from global markets.
Hall pointed out that more than 90 per cent of trade around the world, including here in Canada, is moved on ships, with the vast majority of those moving on foreign-flagged vessels.
“The overall objective is to make sure that the entire marine transportation system in Canada is as safe, efficient, competitive and environmentally responsible as possible,” said Hall.
Hall spent just over seven years with Port Saint John, mainly as harbour master and operations vice-president.
But he also served as the port’s interim president from July to November of 2021 after Jim Quinn resigned following his Senate appointment.
“That was a great experience, just a tremendous opportunity,” said Hall. “I learned so much in that role and it really showed me some other areas of the business of running the port that I wasn’t quite aware of at the time.”
Prior to joining Port Saint John, he spent 10 years with Atlantic Towing, where he held management roles in operations and commercial activities. He is a Master Mariner and a graduate of the Canadian Coast Guard College and holds management certificates from Western and Queens Universities.
“I’ll certainly miss the port, there’s no question about that. The role that I had at the port was very exciting. I always said no two days were exactly the same, every day was a new challenge and I will miss that, and I’ll miss being at the so-called pointy end of operations within the port.”
Andrew Dixon, senior vice-president of business strategy and innovation, will fill Hall’s role on an interim basis.
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