Leading names in the shipping industry have paid tribute to Peter Gast, a prominent figure in German shipbroking, who has died at the age of 89.
Oldendorff Carriers chairman Henning Oldendorff described him as a “very impressive man and a very likeable person”, while German shipowners’ association (VDR) president Alfred Hartmann spoke of Gast's role in forging closer ties between Germany and Denmark.
Columbia Shipmanagement founder and chairman Heinrich Schoeller said Gast was a good friend for around 30 years and well respected both within the German shipping community and internationally.
Rising from apprentice
Gast’s shipping career began in 1949, when he served a typical German apprenticeship with Reederei Werner Peters with a focus on chartering.
Around one year was then spent with broker Harper Petersen in London before 20 years with Globus-Reederei, whose largest shareholder was German chemicals and consumer goods giant Henkel.
Globus operated liner services to West and South Africa and, during his time with the company, Gast was involved in developing and building a series of multipurpose (MPP) liner vessels at Germany’s Blohm+Voss.
In 1973, around the time Globus was sold to Safmarine, he decided to form his own company — GSH — with a partner. It provided consultancy services to shipowners, including on insurance cases.
Then, in 1975, he established Hamburg-based brokerage Peter Gast Shipping, specialising in sale and purchase, newbuildings and shipyard agency work.
It was among the first to represent South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries, as well as being one of the pioneering shipbrokers to enter China. Gast’s first China newbuilding project began in 1979 with a series of 11 MPP containerships of 6,000 dwt built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding.
He was also involved in building many ships in Poland at Stocznia Szczecin and Stocznia Gdynia for German owners.
In 1983, yachting enthusiast Gast started what has become one of the largest private regattas in the world — the Peter Gast Schiffahrtsregatta. Staged annually on the last weekend of August, the event is entering its 36th year.
It began as a wager between Gast, a shipowner and shipyard owner racing their yachts to Copenhagen: the loser pays the bill.
From 48 boats in the early days, it regularly attracts 120 to 130 yachts from the shipping industr, racing between Schleimunde in northern Germany to the Danish island of Aero.
There has been talk that flags will be flown at half mast at this year’s event.
Gast’s wife Karin died in 1981 and, in 1999, he remarried to Birgit. His sons, Dieter and Christian, were only 15 and 16 at the time of Karin’s death.
The sons told TradeWinds this week that they forged a very close relationship with their father and remember weekends away sailing and summer holidays “bonding as a family”. His yacht, Pegasus, stood for Peter Gast und Sons.
'Enjoyed life'
Dieter said: “He always enjoyed life, good food and was always interested in other people.”
Every year, he and Birgit visited South Africa, where he worked for a time with Globus. It was a country that “fascinated” him.
Oldendorff said Gast was “always bringing people together worldwide and facilitating business in a very pleasant fashion”. The annual Schiffahrtsregatta certainly fulfilled that role.
Schoeller described Gast as an excellent S&P and newbuilding broker, very knowledgeable and experienced.
He enjoyed meeting people wherever he went and, even at airports, he could be found in conversation with people he had never met before.
Despite suffering from poor health in the past few years, Schoeller said he remained “full of life”.
“It is sad to have lost him but, on the other hand, he had a very full and enjoyable life," he said. "He was proud of his two sons and very happy with his second wife, who took excellent care of him.”
VDR president Hartmann added: “Peter Gast was a passionate man of shipping, and a sailing enthusiast."
He fulfilled these passions with the regatta, where he "gathered the maritime families around him every year" and "contributed significantly to the reconciliation between Germany and Denmark".
Hartmann said: "Gast founded lifelong relationships for himself and many other people, and contributed to the deep friendship between the two neighbouring countries. We will miss him very much, but he will remain in our memory.”
Gast handed over running of his brokerage to Christian and Dieter in 2000 to spend more time with Birgit. He remained involved as a consultant.
