Frank Coles has stepped down from his position as chief executive of Hong Kong shipmanager the Wallem Group.
His position will be taken on an interim basis by Wallem Shipmanagement managing director John Kaare Aune.
In a statement the Wallem said: “Frank has been very active in highlighting the plight of seafarers during the Covid-19 pandemic and now wishes to become more involved in promoting their welfare, as well as pursuing other opportunities.”
Coles joined Wallem two and a half years ago from maritime software company Transas. Wallem, which has about 7,000 managed crew, said Coles had helped the shipmanager improve operational efficiency, customer relations and safety.
In the previous 20 years after having started as a maritime lawyer with Richards Butler he worked for Pacific Basin in Hong Kong, Rydex, Globe Wireless and Inmarsat Maritime, where he was president for nearly three years.
Wallem chairman Nigel Hill said: "We would like to thank Frank for his drive and commitment over the past two and a half years. The events of the past twelve months have brought the daily lives and work of seafarers into sharp focus and we wish him well in his new endeavours on their behalf.
"The Wallem team will continue the focus on enhancing our products by the use of technology and providing our partners and clients first class service."
Coles has been outspoken on the plight of seafarers trapped at sea by the ongoing pandemic. In April, as it became clear travel and quarantine restrictions would not allow hundreds of thousands of seafarers to go home, he told TradeWinds he feared the industry was at “breaking point.”
Commenting on his departure from Wallem Coles said: “I am proud of the changes I have brought to Wallem and for the advances we have made. After all these years in the maritime industry I would now like to focus on putting something back and on the welfare and rights of seafarers.”
