Pratap Shirke of Australian shipmanagement group ASP – new chairman
The directors of the North P&I club have appointed Pratap Shirke of Australian shipmanagement group ASP as its new chairman.
He succeeds Albert Engelsman of Dutch shipping group Wagenborg, who has completed his four-year term of office.
Shirke has served as a director since 1994 – initially with the Newcastle P&I club, which merged with North in 1998 – and was elected Norths vice-chairman in May 2007. He was also chairman of the clubs investment committee for 13 years.
He was confirmed as Norths chairman on 19th October 2011 at the clubs board meeting in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Commenting on his appointment Shirke said, “I look forward to continuing the excellent progress North has made under the stewardship of my predecessor Albert Engelsman. During his term of office the club has grown from 72 mill gt to 150 mill gt total entered tonnage and boosted free reserves by 65%.
“Despite uncertain times ahead for all P&I clubs, I will ensure we continue to build further on Norths three strategic pillars of membership quality, financial strength and service excellence,” he said.
Shirke is a director of ASP Ship Management Group based in Melbourne, Australia, which – through its decentralised fleet management offices in the UK, Finland, India, Singapore, the Philippines and Australia – manages around 85 vessels worldwide including tankers.
He is also a UK director of PanOceanic Bulk Carriers (UK), which owns several chemical tankers and bulk carriers via a holding company.
Replacing Shirke as vice chairman is NORDENs senior vice president and head of tanker department – Lars Christensen who joined Norths board in 2006. The directors of the North P&I club have appointed Pratap Shirke of Australian shipmanagement group ASP as its new chairman.
He succeeds Albert Engelsman of Dutch shipping group Wagenborg, who has completed his four-year term of office.
Shirke has served as a director since 1994 – initially with the Newcastle P&I club, which merged with North in 1998 – and was elected North’s vice-chairman in May 2007. He was also chairman of the club’s investment committee for 13 years.
He was confirmed as North’s chairman on 19th October 2011 at the club’s board meeting in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Commenting on his appointment Shirke said, “I look forward to continuing the excellent progress North has made under the stewardship of my predecessor Albert Engelsman. During his term of office the club has grown from 72 mill gt to 150 mill gt total entered tonnage and boosted free reserves by 65%.
“Despite uncertain times ahead for all P&I clubs, I will ensure we continue to build further on North’s three strategic pillars of membership quality, financial strength and service excellence,” he said.
Shirke is a director of ASP Ship Management Group based in Melbourne, Australia, which – through its decentralised fleet management offices in the UK, Finland, India, Singapore, the Philippines and Australia – manages around 85 vessels worldwide including tankers.
He is also a UK director of PanOceanic Bulk Carriers (UK), which owns several chemical tankers and bulk carriers via a holding company.
Replacing Shirke as vice chairman is NORDEN’s senior vice president and head of tanker department – Lars Christensen who joined North’s board in 2006.
Source: Tanker Operator