Page 70 - Next Generation 2015 - Digtial Issue
P. 70
Next Generation Americas and ROW
The co-founder of
MidOceanMarine with
his father Nickel has
an extensive network
of contacts and
shipping experience,
as well as a dressage
champion wife
As chief operating officer Seacor Holdings Inc, US
his oversight covers the booming market for Volckert van Reesema
Jones Act tankers VOLCKERT van Reesema is the
US-based equivalent of the next
US generation of well-monied Nordic,
Eric Fabrikant European and Greek family shipping
executives now settling in leadership
PHOTO-shy Eric Fabrikant, the son US-flag, Jones Act product tankers to be positions at companies their fathers
New York-listed Seacor Holdings Inc’s built by his company at the San Diego founded.
70-year-old founder Charles, is dealing yard of General Dynamics Nassco via
with the positive side of the shale gas subsidiary Sea-Vista. Connecticut-based Mr
boom that has profoundly reshaped van Reesema, co-founder of
energy supply and shipping in the US. Seacor joined with private equity MidOceanMarine with his father Nickel,
fund Avista Capital Partners to make is tapping private equity, and the
Appointed co-chief operating the order. The fund invested $150m for a family’s extensive network of contacts
officer of Seacor in February alongside 49% stake in subsidiary Sea-Vista, which and shipping experience to reposition
John Gellert, Mr Fabrikant oversees also has seven US-flag Jones Act tankers the privately-held company to the
the transportation services division on the water. rapidly changing American marine
of the company and is director of the environment.
Seabulk tankers and towing operation Dorian LPG is building one of
subsidiaries. the world’s largest fleets of very large Married to a Dutch international
gas carriers, with 14 being delivered dressage champion with three small
While Gellert looks after the this year. At a time when global fleet children, Mr van Reesema’s social
flagging offshore marine services utilisation rates are at 99%, with rates media presence reveals a taste for living
division as lower oil prices depress averaging record annual highs, the well, charitable ventures and a love
offshore drilling activity, Mr Fabrikant’s Fabrikant empire is at the forefront of the of the US outdoors. Wife Eliane is the
oversight covers the booming market for world’s hottest shipping sectors. daughter of late Dutch shipping giant
Jones Act tankers. He is also director of Willem Cordia.
Dorian LPG, in which Seacor Holdings Mr Fabrikant, in his mid-30s,
has an 18.7% stake, via subsidiary appears to eschew the limelight: despite On a business level,
SeaDor Holdings. the entreaties of his media advisers, MidOceanMarine’s joint venture tanker
he refuses to make corporate photos of company with private equity fund
Charter rates for LPG carriers and himself available. Alterna saw the successful sale last year
Jones Act tankers are both at sustained of Jones Act product tanker American
highs, thanks to soaring shale gas crude But records show he is firmly Phoenix at top-of-the-market prices.
production in the US, which has boosted entrenched in family private affiliates,
refinery output in the US Gulf, and also including Fabrikant International Corp Bought 90% completed from a
led to booming LPG exports. and other trusts and, since joining the bankrupt shipping yard for $12.5m, it
family firm nearly a decade ago, has held was sold for $157m after spending an
In May 2015, Mr Fabrikant welded senior positions across many company estimated further $50m to complete,
his initials on the keel of the first of three divisions, including commodity trading. netting a tidy profit for both parties.
68 | Lloyd’s List Next Generation 2015 | www.lloydslist.com
