The vision of... Jan de Looff

摘要

Being a third generation ship owner, shipping is in Jan de Looff's blood. After working in the shipbuilding business, he decided to go back to his shipping roots and become a ship owner: "In 2003 I sold my shares of the shipyard and started full-time as managing director at Briese Shipping BV." "My grandfather started as a ship owner in 1921, when he bought his first vessel, the Avontuur ('Adventure' in English, ed.) a Clipper of 120 ton for 4,000 Dutch guilders. He was captain-owner of one vessel, my father expanded the shipping company", De Looff tells about his background. "I used to sail with him during the holidays, but consciously made the decision to stay onshore for my career. In 1982 and 1984, my father sold his two vessels and in 1996, I founded Briese Shipping BV, in cooperation with Roelf Briese. We had an order to build a vessel for the German ship owner Bruno Bishoff, which was going to be technically managed by Briese Schiffahrts GmbH in Leer, Germany. Roelf Briese also ordered some vessels with us and we decided to found Briese Shipping BV in the Netherlands together based on mutual trust and respect."