The 40 foreign shipping executives taking part in Bengal Tiger Line’s 33rd consecutive annual tournament at Singapore’s world-renowned Sentosa Golf Club got a first-hand lesson on why the equatorial island state is always so green.
Tee-off time for the popular event held on 18 August was delayed by several hours due to torrential rain.
As is always the case in the tropics, the sun did eventually put in an appearance so, after enjoying some liquid hospitality in the shelter of the clubhouse, a full flight of 144 shipping golfers took to the greens.
Bengal Tiger Line, known commonly as BTL, has dominated the golf shipping tournament circuit for more than three decades and continues to be a success. Chief executive Bill Smart said the event is “in appreciation of our clients, partners and friends’ loyal support”.
A common feeder operator with a substantial presence in the Indian subcontinent, the company derived its name from early trading in the Bay of Bengal as well as the golfing expression “Tiger Line”, which it emulated with direct service connections, providing through transits to long-haul containers.
Today, its network covers the Far East to the Middle East, with new markets in the Mediterranean and South America apparently on the radar.
BTL was initially owned by the Schoeller Group and Transnaval Schiffahrts until it was sold to investment firm CMIA Capital Partners in 2016. In 2022, it was acquired by HICO Investment Group.
Despite these ownership changes, the company continues to be based in Singapore with Smart at the helm.
