He will be replacing outgoing Harbourmaster Chad Murray.

Mr Barker is currently the Head of Defence Business Development at NATS, the UK’s principal Air Traffic Control Service provider and will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role.

“I am absolutely thrilled to become Guernsey’s Harbourmaster. My time in Alderney gave me a deep affection for these Islands and a healthy respect for the waters around them," he said.

"This is also an exciting time to be joining the Guernsey Ports team, and I look forward to my role in taking the harbours forward.”

Mr Barker has served on a variety of naval ships, from Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers through frigates and destroyers to the carrier HMS Invincible. He has seen active duty in the Arabian Gulf, Kosovo and Sierra Leone and served as commanding officer of HMS St AlbansL and HMS Somerset. More recently, in 2011, he was attached to the Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain, playing a key role in countering piracy and maritime terrorism.

He’s also a Chartered Manager, a Freeman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, and a member of the Fleet Air Arm Officers Association.

He will take post in his new role on 1 August 2018.

The Chairman of the Guernsey Ports Board for the States Trading Supervisory Board Stuart Falla MBE said: “We are delighted to appoint David to this important role, his skills and maritime experience in both merchant shipping and the Royal Navy will greatly assist our ongoing efforts to improve harbour facilities and customer service. David’s wider experience in aviation will also help the Ports Management Team as it continues to find efficiencies and better ways of working across the Island’s ports.”