Tug boat named in honour of former Commander in touching tribute dorsetecho.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dorsetecho.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
PORTLAND Port s operations and services have been boosted with the introduction of a new multi-million pound tugboat - which has been officially named in honour of a former director who died earlier this year. Portland Port director and decorated Royal Navy commander Rupert Best, who retired from duty in the early 1990s, was instrumental in persuading Langham Industries to buy the port from the MOD in 1996, and worked tirelessly to grow the operation. Mr Best died aged 76 in February, and his friend and Portland Port chief executive, Bill Reeves, said the new tug will be named in memory of the late former military commander.
TRIBUTES have been paid to Portland Port director and decorated Royal Navy commander, Rupert Best, who has died at the age of 76. Commander Best, who was a director of Portland Port UK, commanded the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Courageous during the Falklands conflict in 1982. He retired from the Royal Navy during the 1990s and would be instrumental in persuading Langham Industries to privately take over Portland Port from the Ministry of Defence in 1996 - and the subsequent formation of the Portland Harbour Authority. Friend and Portland Port UK colleague, Bill Reeves, said: Rupert served as director of Portland Port from its formation right up until his death.