Idan Ofer's Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has appointed three new executives to lead its push into dual-fuelled ships and digitalisation.
The company said Claus Nehmzow will join in Singapore as chief innovation officer, Manoj Suri will be technical director and Chetan Sood becomes gas fleet manager.
The moves comes hot on the heels of EPS launching its EPS Accelerator tech start-up scheme, in tandem with US seed accelerator company Techstars, as well as contracting and chartering several LNG dual-fuel vessels.
“On many levels, the shipping industry is now at a crossroad with external forces disrupting our traditional model. Beyond managing the increasing size of our fleet, we want EPS to be at the forefront in the areas of technology and decarbonisation,” said CEO Cyril Ducau.
“Filling these positions with seasoned executives is a product of the entire EPS organisation, at sea and onshore, working together towards this vision."
Nehmzow will be responsible for all technology-related strategies and initiatives, including overseeing EPS’ IT department and the EPS Accelerator.
Most recently, he led BP’s digital innovation organisation in Asia and the Pacific, using AI, blockchain, and robotics.
Suri will be responsible for the technical management of EPS’ growing fleet of 14m tonnes across the chemical, container, dry bulk, gas carrier, pure car and truck carrier and tanker sectors.
This includes overseeing its newbuilding programme of more than 30 vessels.
He was originally a chief engineer and spent 14 years at boxship giant Seaspan, becoming vice president of fleet management in Vancouver.
Sood began his seagoing career with EPS as a cadet and climbed the ranks to become a chief officer.
He then went into fleet management ashore, with the last seven years being spent at Teekay LNG, most recently as fleet director.
Nehmzow has already joined, while the other two are expected to begin in December.
