Well-known Italian tanker executive and shipbroker Nicola Bonetti has died at the age of 76.
Bonetti enjoyed a career stretching over more than 40 years, taking in Fratelli d’Amico, Misano di Navigazione, Premuda and Enel.
He was widely known as “Dott. [Dr] Nicola Benetti” within the industry and was still working at London-based shipbroker Alibra Shipping until his death.
He leaves behind his wife Elena, a daughter and two grandchildren.
Alibra founder and director Giuseppe Rosano told TradeWinds that his friend and colleague had been battling illness over the past couple of years.
He described Bonetti as “prolific and extremely well known in the tanker industry for over 40 years”.
“He was best known as an owner’s representative within the Italian community, a gentleman like no other,” Rosano said.
Bonetti died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on 31 August in Genoa, Italy.
Alibra said in a statement: “It is with immense sadness that we inform you of the passing of our long-time friend and colleague Nicola Bonetti.
“Nicola was known widely in the industry for his professionalism and gentle approach. He loved soccer and never missed an issue of the Gazzetta newspaper every Sunday.
Old school
“We all admire his professionalism, honesty and his old-school gentleman ways. We will miss him and will keep him in good memories always. Our thoughts and prayers go to Nicola’s wife Elena and family.”
In 2001, TradeWinds reported that Italian electricity company Enel began strengthening its shipping ties and brought in Bonetti — already a senior figure in the Italian shipowning sector — to oversee its tanker and dry bulk operations.
Bonetti had already amassed experience at other Italian owners by that point.
Owners such as d’Amico and Premuda had strong links with Enel.
Bonetti was general manager at Misano di Navigazione, one of Italy’s biggest tanker companies before it went bankrupt in the mid-1990s.
He subsequently became heavily involved with d’Amico and Premuda, running their Rome-based Petrotank pool of aframax tankers.
The executive left Premuda in May 2000 and with partner Enrico Rossi established Fremar, their own tanker operation in Monte Carlo.
In 2003, he helped set up and then managed Italian tanker operator BMG Shipping.
This company was wound down after a year following a brief flirtation with the handysize market.
Alibra was founded in 2007 by former Simpson Spence Young executive director Rosano.
