Senior Management Appointment

Fisher (James) & Sons PLC
12 January 2004


                   James Fisher and Sons plc ('James Fisher')

                         Senior Management Appointment

James Fisher, the marine services provider, today announces the appointment of
Simon Harris as the key commercial executive to head up its expansion into MoD
support services.  This will take effect from 1 March 2004 when he becomes
Commercial Director, James Fisher (Shipping Services) Limited.



Tim Harris, Chairman of James Fisher, commented:



'We are delighted to have attracted another high calibre manager with a
successful track record, in a sector with considerable importance to the Group's
development.



As stated, further growing our business in the MoD environment is one of the key
elements to our strategy.  Simon's appointment should strengthen our business
relationship and add further fire power.'



Simon Harris (42) joins James Fisher from Houlder Limited, a marine and offshore
service company, where he has worked for nine years acting as Operations
Director since 1999.



This has involved extensive marketing of services to the MoD and execution of
marine related contracts.  Of particular note, he was Project Director of the
AWSR consortium (of which James Fisher is a 25% shareholder) managing the
Strategic Sealift PFI negotiations and bringing the project to fruition.  AWSR
concluded a long-term contract for the supply of six RoRo ships, now delivered,
for use in Strategic Sealift service until 2024 and AWSR made a first time
contribution to marine support services in 2002.



Prior to these positions, Simon fulfilled a number of technical posts including
training as a Naval Architect in the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors.





ENDS



For further information contact


Tim Harris                 James Fisher and Sons     020 7338 5808
Angus Buchanan             James Fisher and Sons     020 7338 5808
Peter Binns/Paul McManus   Binns & Co PR Ltd         020 7786 9600





Editor's note:


James Fisher's business is structured into three divisions: Tankships, Marine
Support Services and Cable Layers.



Marine Support Services now accounts for 39% of James Fisher's operating profits
and it is the Company's strategy to grow this business both organically and by
acquisition. James Fisher's Marine Support Services division provides technical
and marine expertise to the most exacting of customers - the MoD, the oil and
gas industries and other governmental bodies.



James Fisher already has an established relationship with the Ministry of
Defence:



RFA Oakleaf

•         a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship owned by James Fisher, is under long-term
          charter to the Royal Navy



RAF Sealand

•         a stores and logistics depot for the RAF in Chester, is operated by
          James Fisher



AWSR

•         a Strategic Sealift PFI Joint Venture for six military RoRo vessels.
          James Fisher holds a 25% stake in the Joint Venture



James Fisher Rumic Ltd

•         has a long-term contract with the Royal Navy to manage, maintain and
          operate the UK Submarine Rescue System based in Glasgow.

•         operates a marine maintenance service for the Royal Navy in Plymouth.



James Fisher MIMIC Ltd

•         supplies maintenance and related asset management services to the
          Royal Navy



Simon Harris is no relation of Tim Harris, the Company Chairman.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange              USLSEIF