Speakers 2008
Svenåke BERGLIE
(svenake.berglie@fkg.se)
Svenåke Berglie is managing director of Fordons Komponent Gruppen (FKG, in English, Scandinavian Automotive Suppliers), since 1999. The association is owned and financed by the supplier industry and covering Sweden, Norway and Finland. FKG is also a member of Clepa, the European Association for Automotive Suppliers. Berglie has an MBA from The School of Economics in Gothenburg and started working in the supplier industry 1980 and had CFO and CEO positions in supplier companies In Sweden and Germany.
Jon BOYCE
(seahighways@btconnect.com)
Jon is a qualified naval architect, graduating in 1978 from London University. Following a spell with P&O in London, Jon developed a strong interest in ro-ro design and operation. This became even more focussed when he subsequently lived in Scandinavia, working for several ro-ro operators. Since 1989, his own consultancy company has specialised in the ro-ro sector, often co-operating with Klas Brogren at ShipPax Information. Now based in London, Sea Highways has been responsible for the design of a number of short sea ro-ro vessels and the study of new routes. In his spare time, Jon is very involved in voluntary Christian work, especially in Eastern Europe.
Klas BROGREN
ShipPax Information moved its office last year, one reason claimed to be that Klas could then take his bike between home and office. So – the result? Well, with that poor Swedish summer, he still believes he is excused for not exceeding 20 times. And promises to do more in 2008, believe it or not.
Klas is first and foremost dedicated to passenger shipping as a lifelong hobby. Still a school boy, he was invited by Tor Line to be part of the project team which built TOR BRITANNIA and TOR SCANDINAVIA, as a learning exercise. Having finished school, he returned for a project work with Tor Line in Gothenburg. It was followed by five years with shipbrokers in Stockholm where he was active in S&P and chartering, specialising in passenger shipping (1977-1981). Then he returned to his hometown to become a partner in Marine Trading which for many years held the management contract for Prince of Fundy Cruises as well as Scarlett Line. As the need of market information expanded, he developed this in his own company Plus 2 Ferryconsultation AB, which later registered ShipPax Information as its marketing name. Apart from the publications, CRUISE & FERRY Info, GUIDE, DESIGNS and MARKET, the company is also offering tailor-made consulting or evaluations.
Bo CERUP-SIMONSEN
(Bo.Cerup.Simonsen@dnv.com)
Dr Bo Cerup-Simonsen holds a master’s degree in Naval Architecture and Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark and University of Washington and a doctoral degree from the Technical University of Denmark and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Until 2003 he worked as an Associate Professor at the Naval Architecture Department at the Technical University of Denmark, teaching, supervising graduate students and doing research in the areas of shipping economics, environmental life cycle analysis of shipping, risk analysis and safety of shipping and in classical naval architecture.
In 2003 Cerup-Simonsen joined Det Norske Veritas and from 2004 to 2007 he was leading Maritime Technical Consultancy, the unit responsible for delivering technical consultancy services to the maritime industry, as well as performing a large part of the internal research and development in DNV Maritime.
Cerup-Simonsen has been principal consultant and project manager on a number of large projects related to shipping safety and environmental risk, for instance in connection with major shipping and infrastructure development projects where emissions and accidental discharge have been governing factors. He holds a number of positions in international boards and committees, for example as Chairman of the Danish Accident Investigation Team for Offshore Constructions. Cerup-Simonsen has authored a large number of original scientific publications in various areas related to safe and environmental shipping and has been honoured with several awards, for example the RINA-LR Ship Safety Award in 2005.
From 2008, Bo Cerup-Simonsen has been responsible for development activities in DNV Maritime related to Environmental Technology and Services.
William GIBBONS
(W.Gibbons@psa-psara.org)
Williams Gibbons has been director of the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) since April 1994. Since that time he has worked to actively promote the UK cruising industry to UK holidaymakers and the travel trade, through the PSA’s Passenger Shipping Association Retail Agents scheme (PSARA) and generic PR Campaign. Since 2003 the PSA has been coordinating further PR activity, to promote travel by ferry. The PSA is the trade association for both cruise and ferry companies based in the UK and currently has 32 cruise and 19 ferry members. The PSA is now seen as the main industry voice for commercial matters as well as a source of information and advice for the public.
In 2004 Bill was very involved in setting up the European Cruise Council (ECC). He is currently Marketing Director of the ECC.
In the same year the PSA set up an Associate Membership Scheme, which currently has 42 members.
From 1990 to 1994 William was an independent management consultant, working particularly in the ferry industry, whilst also studying for an MBA degree. William previously held the post of general manager of Sealink Isle of Wight ferries, prior to which he was the service manager and then ferry line manager for the Harwich Hook of Holland ferry route.
William was previously assistant shipping and port manager for the Port of Harwich and worked on the Channel Island services from Portsmouth.
William has two children and lives in London and Dorset. He is also a Justice of the Peace (J.P) in central London.
Jean-Michel GIGUET
(jean-michel.giguet@brittany-ferries.fr)
Jean-Michel Giguet is the Managing Group Director of Brittany-Ferries since 2005.
He has a graduate of Hotel School in Lausanne – Switzerland.
Having worked in the hotel industry during many years, Jean-Michel has been five stars Hotel Manager and Paris-Ile de France Pullman Hotels Managing Director; he joined the company in 1989 as Director of Serestel in charge of the on-board sales, services and catering.
Brittany-Ferries is a leading ferry-liner company on the Western Channel, founded in 1972 by Alexis Gourvennec visionary-leader of Bretons farmers community. Today, Brittany-Ferries is an integral and important part of the tourism infrastructure of holiday France and Spain.
Jean-Michel is married, has four children and lives in Brittany – France.
Hans Juul JACOBSEN
(hans-juul.jacobsen@saint-gobain.com)
Hans Juul Jacobsen (57) is Director of Saint-Gobain Marine Applications, a new organisation created by him with in Saint-Gobain – (a global player with more than 200.000 employees manufacturing building materials). The purpose for his employment was to create and organise cooperation, coordination and synergy between internal companies who are manufacturing materials for ship building. Until now Saint-Gobain Marine Applications consist of Saint-Gobain / Isover, Deutsche Glas, Sully, Vetrotech, Finn-Glass, Dahl, Ventistal and coop Halton. Hans Juul Jacobsen have been working in the sector since 1981 (22 years by C. C. Jensen, Denmark) and is a board member in Danish Cruise and Ferry Group / Danish Export Council. Original he comes from the south part of Denmark but today he live in Aachen – Germany.
Thor JOHANNESEN
(thor.johannesen@kktv.no)
Thor Johannesen’s 40 year career in the shipping industry started with a 20 year employment in Norwegian Larvik Line, the last 15 years as Passenger Manager with responsibility for sale and marketing in as well the passenger trade as freight and transport.
In 1985 Thor joined Fred. Olsen as responsible for a newly established route Oslo/Hirsthals-Harwich, and was after less than one year offered the position as Deputy Managing Director in Fred. Olsen’s Kristiansand office with special responsibility for route and tonnage development, price policy, freight activities and administration.
In 1988 Thor became Head of Nortrans Touring, a combined travel agency and tour operator, and in 1989 he joined DFDS as MD for DFDS Norway A/S. Parallel to this position Thor was responsible for Scandinavian Seaways, Denmark, in the period 1992-93. In 1993 he was offered the position as Vice Director in Scandinavian Seaways with responsibility for route and tonnage development and the travel agency activities.
Thor was appointed MD in the newly established company DFDS Norway Holding A/S in 1995, and in the period from 2001 until he retired in 2004, he held the position as MD for DFDS Seaways.
In addition to his positions Thor has been member and chairman of several boards, all within the travel trade.
Today Thor is consultant in the ferry shipping and tourist industry with his company TOPS Consulting.
Trond KLEIVDAL
(trond.kleivdal@colorline.no)
Mr. Trond Kleivdal (44) is the President and CEO of Color Line AS.
Tronds academic career started at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy before graduating from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration in 1988. Trond started his professional career in the Kværner Fast Ferry division where after he in 1994 joined P.F. Bassøe as a shipbroker. After a short period within Swede Ship he stared to work in the cruise ferry industry, first in 1996 within Larvik Scandi Line, later same year in Color Line. Color Line is today Norway’s leading cruise ferry operator with 8 ships and approximately 3500 employees. Color Line is at present in the process of completing its fleet renewal program amounting to approx 1 billion Euro. Trond has had different management roles in Color Line and was appointed Managing Director/CEO in 2001. Apart from a number of board positions within the Color family of companies Trond is also a member of the board of the Norwegian Shipowners Association (NSA).
Mads P. KOFOD
(mk@bornholmstrafikken.dk)
Mads P. Kofod is Managing Director in the Danish Ferry companies: BORNHOLMSTRAFIKKEN A/S,NORDIC FERRY SERVICES A/S AND SYDFYNSKE A/S.
Activities in this group is: Yearly turn over app. 750 mio.D.kr. 700 employees. 12 ferries, including High Speed craft, RoPax-ferries. Conventional ferries and doubleender ferries.
Originally educated as Master and Engineer and later as Bachelor SCI. From 1984-1988 MK worked in the Danish Minestry of Industry. 1988 – 1990 Director, Planning, DSB Shipping Company (Now Scandlines A/S). 1990 ?- 1993 International Director, DSB. 1993 – 1996 Managing Director, DanRail A/S. ?1996 – 1998 Parcels Director, DSB Parcels. 1998 – 1999 Deputy Managing Director, Dansk Management Forum. Since 2000 MK has been CEO of the Danish ferry company BORNHOLMSTRAFIKKEN.
Pim de LANGE
(pim.delange@stenaline.com)
Pim de Lange (61) is Area Director North Sea of Stena Line with over 40 years experience in the shipping industry. From 1965 till 1988 he worked in the following positions: As a Marine Engineer on deepsea going vessels from the Dutch company Van Nievelt, Goudriaan & Co. Shipmanager at the repair yard Niehuis & v/d Berg in Rotterdam and to superintendent at the ferry company SMZ in Hoek van Holland. Since 1989 he has held a number of senior management positions at Stena Line and was appointed Managing Director of Stena Line BV in 1996 and Area Director North Sea in 2000. Over the years he has expanded the Stena Line activities on the North Sea in an extremely competitive market.
Oskar LEVANDER
(oskar.levander@wartsila.com)
Oskar Levander graduated with honours from Helsinki University of Technology in 2000, with a Master of Science in Naval Architecture. He has since been working with Wärtsilä Corporation and is in his current position as General Manager heading the “Conceptual Design” department, which is part of the Ship Power business unit. Prior to this he has held positions as an R&D Engineer and later as a Project Manager. He has been working mostly with the development of new ship designs and propulsion solutions for various ship types.
Nigel LINGARD
(nigel.lingard@fredolsen.co.uk)
Nigel Lingard, Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, joined the company at its Ipswich headquarters in 1988. In addition to overall responsibility for marketing, sales and reservations, he also leads the company’s long-term product development planning.
Nigel joined Swedish ferry operator Tor Line based in Felixstowe in 1979 before moving to Scandinavian Seaways in 1984 to head up the sales and marketing department. He held this position until joining Fred. Olsen.
Nigel is a Director and Past Chairman of the UK’s Passenger Shipping Association, and also serves on ABTA’s Membership Committee.
Antonis MANIADAKIS
(maniadakis@minoan.gr)
Born on December 7, 1959, Antonis Maniadakis and his family grew up in Crete. Driven by his love for the sea and international travel he applied, after finishing his core education, to the Academy of Merchant Marine where he was distinguished on the Hellenic Examination of 1994 as a Master Mariner, Class A. His desire to enhance his knowledge further on the shipping industry led him to enter the University of Plymouth in U.K. where he completed a Master of Science (MSc) in International Shipping. He joined MINOAN LINES shipping company and, after rising through the ranks of this Greek company, became Chief Shipping Officer in 1997 and then Chief Executive Officer in 2005. Within a highly, competitive environment of high expectations, he has managed, from both positions, to establish and maintain a sense of direction towards his main vision and goal, that is to lead the company to become a dominant player in the European shipping industry by implementing successfully several strategically planned and challenging projects, including the complete renewal of the company’s fleet with the building of new state-of-the-art cruise ferries which offer innovative, high quality customer services. Being successful on his day to day activities, his key to effective stress relaxation is to dedicate his free time on gardening, reading or participating to cultural activities. Furthermore, he is fulfilling successfully his role as a father by guiding and counselling his children to follow their dreams and reach their personal goals.
Tim MARKING
(Marking@ecsa.eu)
After obtaining a London University law degree, Tim Marking joined the UK Chamber of Shipping in the late seventies as a trainee before moving to the European Shipowners Association in 1981. He has represented the European shipping industry in relation to many maritime EU regulatory and policy issues over the past decades, particularly as regards social, safety and environment issues. He is now ECSA Deputy Secretary General and has responsibilities for running the High Level Ferry Group and the European Cruise Council for which he is secretary.
John Steen MIKKELSEN
(John.S.Mikkelsen@scandlines.dk)
John Steen-Mikkelsen, 52, CEO of the ferry company Scandlines GmbH based in Rostock Germany, which provides transport services for the passenger and freight industry between German, Denmark and Sweden as well between Germany/Denmark/Sweden to the Baltic States and Finland. Scandlines transported 20 mio passengers, 4 mio cars and more than 1 mio freight units during 2007.
He has held several key functions in the company during the Last 10 years. For many years he was the line manger of the company’ largest ferry line between Rødby in Denmark and Puttgarden in Germany. During these years the line grew into one of the busiest European ferry lines. In 2004 he was appointed Division Director with responsibility for the route network, ship operations, personnel and purchasing, thus having responsibility for all operational activities of the group.
John Steen-Mikkelsen’s position is based on his education in the field of commerce as well as a career in the service of the maritime industry. For many years he was managing director of the Stena-owned Lion Ferry, managing director of Europalinien between Denmark and Germany, and now as CEO of the Scandlines Group.
Andy OSBOURNE
(Andy.Osbourne@bp.com)
Andy Osbourne is Business Development Director for Krystallon ( a BP jv company ) Andy joined Krystallon in April 2006 having spent 4 years in the USA initially setting up their Financial Risk Management business in Chicago and latterly running their Arco Commercial Fuels Business on the west coast of the USA based in the Arco Los Angeles office.
Andy graduated in Accountancy at Lincoln University and after 3 years spent in the accountancy world, moved to covering sales and marketing of oil pipelines for Dunlop Oil & Marine dealing with oil companies throughout Africa and the Middle East.
After spending 11 years with Dunlop he decided spending 30 weeks a year out of the country was too much, and joined BP in 1987 as Sales Manager for BP Commercial in the UK. Since then he has worked for BP throughout Northern Europe and USA in Lubricants, On-road Fuel Cards, Commercial and Marine bulk fuels and 4 years in derivatives marketing.
After his last 4 year stint in the USA, Andy now lives back in the family home in North London and has a wife (Jo) and 2 sons.
Jan Helge PILE
(jan.helge.pile@colorline.no)
Jan Helge Pile is a Project Director with Color Line since February 2007. He takes over responsibilities from Dr. Rolf Kjær who retired from a similar position earlier this year. Jan Helge is responsible for Color Line’s present newbuilding program to be completed in May 2008. His professional background includes 5 years as Technical Director for Norwegian ferry operator Tide Sjø A/S, as well as more than 10 years with Royal Caribbean Cruises in miscellaneous shorebased and seagoing positions. Among these he was an Assistant Project Director for their newbuilding programs in Europe, and he served in nautical positions such as Chief Officer and Staff Captain on their vessels. He holds a degree in Naval Architecture from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway (NTNU) and a degree as a Master Mariner from Haugesund Maritime College in Haugesund, Norway. He is a licensed sea captain.
Guy PLATTEN
(guy.platten@cmassets.co.uk)
Guy was appointed Managing Director for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) with effect from 1st August 2007. CMAL is wholly owned by Scottish Ministers and currently owns 29 ferries of varying size and 24 harbour facilities throughout the west coast of Scotland and the Clyde Estuary. In addition there are a further 32 harbours with lease arrangements. The Company is charged with the long term management of these assets including vessel replacement and harbour development. CMAL is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the assets remain fit for purpose and serve the ever changing needs of the diverse communities within the islands and mainland. The assets are made available to an operator, currently CalMac Ferries Ltd, who then provide the lifeline ferry service.
Before joining CMAL Guy was Director of Marine Operations for the Northern Lighthouse Board and was responsible for the NLB fleet, Oban port facility, 24 hour monitor centre and providing navigational advice regarding the provision of Aids to Navigation around the coast of Scotland and the Isle of Man. He started his career at sea in the Merchant Navy in 1982 serving with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service. After gaining his Master Mariner Certificate he moved to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution as an Inspector of Lifeboats, latterly as Inspector for Scotland. He also served 3 years with the Ministry of Defence as a Salvage Officer. As a Salvage Officer Guy was closely involved in the project to remove oil from the sunken battleship HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow as well as undertaking routing salvage operations including the refloating of a grounded type 23 Frigate in Oslo Fjord.
Guy lives in the Scottish Borders and enjoys a wide variety of interests including running and keeping his four children amused.
Philip G. PRESTON
(phil.preston@calmac.co.uk)
Philip Preston is a Civil Engineer with 30 years experience in harbours and terminal facilities on the west coast and islands of Scotland.
In 1993 Philip joined Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd as their in house engineer to oversee property maintenance and replacement strategy. ?In 2002 Philip acted as Technical Director, covering for absence, and in 2004 was
appointed Operations Director.
Philip is a member of Mallaig Harbour Board and is a Board member of Port Skills and Safety Ltd.
Kell ROBDRUP
(krobdrup@norfolkline.com)
Kell Robdrup (46) is the Managing Director of the Norfolkline Ferry Division He has 25 years of experience within Shipping and Transportation. Over the years, he has held a number of senior management positions within the A.P.Møller-Maersk Group in Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Holland. Under his leadership, Norfolkline Ferry Division has made some remarkable achievements, including the development of the Dover-Dunkerque service, expanding into the Irish Sea, implementation of new routes and building the first class terminal in Vlaardingen. Kell lives in Holland with his wife and 2 children.
Christer SCHOUG
(christer.schoug@stena.com)
During his career, Christer Schoug has often worked in project teams of various size, from time to time with very few participants. This was true already in 1987, when he joined Scandinavian Ferry Lines (SFL) / SweFerry, and became responsible for a major conversion of the ferries Hamlet and Ofelia. Through diligence and hard work and knowing that honesty and cooperation always pays off, he advanced in the organisation which included both operative and project responsibilities.
In the end of May 1995, Christer Schoug was asked to visit Stena RoRo in Gothenburg, which resulted in him calling his wife on the way back to his native Skåne, informing her that life was about to change. He had accepted and signed on as Newbuilding Manager for Stena RoRo 300 kilometres north. Stena RoRo needed renewal of both RoRos and Ropaxes and it was decided that Stena RoRo was to set up its own newbuilding department.
Since then Christer Schoug has advanced to Managing Director of Stena RoRo but he is also the Shipping Coordinator of Stena Rederi, which includes being responsible for the Sphere’s representative office in Beijing. Apart from his commitment to Stena, Christer Schoug holds tasks in Interferry and ABS, where he is the Chairman of the North European committee.
Trafford TAYLOR
(trafford.taylor@bcferries.com)
Captain Trafford Taylor, Executive Vice President, New Vessel Construction & Industry Affairs, has been part of the BC Ferries team since 1990. Captain Taylor, a graduate of Queen’s University, has worldwide experience sailing on tankers, ice breakers, supply ships, offshore oil rigs, mega yachts, passenger ships and fast ferries. He also spent nine years with Parks Canada in Banff, Yoho and Pacific Rim National Parks. Since joining BC Ferries, Captain Taylor has overseen the sea trials and entry into service of seven new-builds, and served as Marine Superintendent for Inter Island Services (South), Vice President of Inter Island and Northern Services and Executive Vice President of Operations. Captain Taylor was appointed Executive Vice President, New Vessel Construction & Industry Affairs in April 2006, where he is responsible for BC Ferries’ new asset development and ship build program, industry relations and the development of strategic positioning initiatives. Captain Taylor is on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Ferry Operators Association and sits as a member of numerous maritime organizations. He is a frequent speaker at international maritime conferences and his articles have been published by a variety of trade periodicals.
Bo-Lennart THORBJÖRNSSON
(blt@boltconsulting.se)
After gaining a B. Sc. in Ba and Econ at Lund University in 1972, he joined Lion Ferry AB, Sweden and was three years later promoted to Marketing Manager. In 1978, he became International Passenger Manager with overall sales and marketing responsibility for all Lion Ferry’s five european routes and markets.
In 1981, he moved to DFDS Helsingborg as Line Manager and became after two years Managing Director of DFDS in Hamburg, Germany, where his restructuring led to the company becoming profitable again. Continuing with DFDS, but this time being based at HQ Copenhagen, in 1984, he became Group Director and head of all DFDS Seaways’ six European routes. In the year 2000, he was appointed CEO and Managing Director of DFDS Group Executive Board, again based in Copenhagen. After seventeen years working away from his family Monday-Friday, he decided to leave DFDS and instead work as a Management Consultant based in Halmstad. BOLT CONSULTING, founded in 2002 and fully owned by Bo-Lennart is, with his European senior advisory team a major management adviser to the ferry shipping industry. Bo-Lennart has also experience as chairman and board member of several European shipping and travel companies.
Thomas WEIGEND
(weigend@meyerwerft.de)
Thomas Weigend (33) has been Head of Sales and Design Department at MEYER WERFT in Papenburg since 2005. MEYER WERFT is a family owned shipyard established in 1795 with main activities in building cruise ships, cruise ferries, ferries, passenger vessels, gas tankers and livestock carriers which are completed in two large covered building docks. The current order book includes eleven cruise ships, six LEG/LPG gas tankers and one passenger ferry. Thomas started his career at MEYER WERFT 1999 in the Project Department where he was also involved in the development process at the IMO regarding new passenger evacuation guidelines at the beginning. Thomas studied naval architecture at the university of Kiel. Starting 1994 he was several periods with MEYER WERFT in different production and design departments. Before that he had served in the German navy as a navigator on a minesweeper and several landing vessels. Thomas grew up near the Black Forrest, however, he discovered quite early his passion for sailing and ships. Nowadays he lives close to the yard together with his wife and daughter.
Robin WILKINS
(rwilkins@seafrance.fr)
After graduating in Economics from London University, Robin Wilkins began his career at the Gillette Company working in market research, sales and brand management. After 10 years, he moved on to Hoverspeed as Marketing Manager, taking over the Sales Department a year later. In 1983, he was appointed to the Board of Directors and a year later became a member of the Management buy-out team. After the subsequent sale of Hoverspeed to Sea Containers in 1986, he spent the next 4 years as Managing Director of Hoverspeed, followed by 2 years as Commercial Director of Sea Containers Ferries where he oversaw the development and introduction of the SeaCat.
He subsequently moved on to Cunard Line as Vice-President, Europe. Three years later, he joined SeaFrance Limited as Managing Director, immediately prior to its launch in 1996. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Marketing, a member of the Council of Management (and former Chairman) of the Passenger Shipping Association and is currently Chairman of ABTOF, the association of British travel organisers to France. In 2002 he was awarded the Médaille d’Or du Tourisme by the French government.
Sponsors & exhibitors
