Scrabster-born captain awarded MBE for maritime work
A Scrabster-born seafarer said he was chuffed to have been recognised in the King's birthday honours given his family's long-standing connection to the waters around Scotland.
Captain Alistair Mackenzie was awarded an MBE in recognition of his services to the maritime sector and to charity.
Alistair, whose father Captain William Mackenzie previously worked as the harbourmaster in Scrabster, has served on the board for the Port of Aberdeen for 13 years, with eight of those as chairman.
Born and raised in Scrabster, Alistair attended Thurso High School before going into the Merchant Navy where he had a successful career.
Later in life, he decided to move into the oil and gas industry, where he got involved with the Port of Aberdeen.
Alistair now lives in Aberdeen, but still has close ties to Thurso.
Reflecting on his achievement, he said: “I’m delighted. It came as a bit of a surprise but I’m really pleased to have received the award.
“I’m pretty pleased it was in recognition of the maritime sector, given my family's long connection with the sea and seafaring. I’m pretty chuffed.
“It relates a lot of my time I spent as chair of the harbour board in Aberdeen, so I’m pretty pleased to get recognition for that. But I also appreciate I didn't do it on my own, I had the support of many colleagues along the way.”