March 2007 - Eitzen group

New Year party - SingaporeBy Guy G. Smith, Eitzen Bulk, SingaporeAs readers will know the Eitzen Groupholds a New Year party in Singapore forour friends in the Asia Pacific regionand this year was no exception. For thefirst time, however, we held a Golf tournamentthe day before for a group ofmainly overseas guests in appreciationof the distances they had travelled tojoin us.We were honoured and delighted withthe participation - over 40 guests joinedfor golf and a whopping 425 guests forour New Year party, including over 100from overseas.The golfers enjoyed an unusually freshand pleasant breeze while they madetheir way around the Singapore IslandCountry Club's impeccable IslandCourse. Despite no records being brokenthe golfers enjoyed themselves withthe course being especially kind to thosewith a fear of water - there were fewwater hazards on this course!Of course, golf was just a pre cursor tothe main event! Our New Year partywhich was again held in the China Clubperched on the 52nd floor of CapitalTower in downtown Singapore. Inanticipation of greater numbers theChina Club permitted to use the wholespace, allowing 360 degree views. TheChina Club is certainly one of the bestlocations to see the ever changing landscapeof Singapore and with clear skiesguests were treated to a spectacularview.Eitzen Group staff from all segments,Eitzen Chemical, Eitzen Gas, EitzenBulk and Eitzen Maritime Services,enjoyed playing host to our guests fromnear and far. Mr. Axel C. Eitzen, asCEO of the Eitzen Group, was theprincipal host and was joined by his wifeNina to welcome new and old friends,and in keeping with the diverse activitiesof the Group what a very broad rangeof friends they were. From bankers toagents, brokers to port authorities,traders to miners, shipyards to insurers,owners to charterers, the guest list representedthe full gamut of the shippingindustry.In his welcome address to the guestsMr. Eitzen drew attention to this factand highlighted that without the friendshipand support of so many people theEitzen Group would not be where it istoday. Furthermore, having the supportfrom the industry in Asia will beincreasingly more important as theeconomies here continue to developwith the trade naturally following suit. Itis our belief that the best way to maintainthat support is to follow our valuesof being innovative and dynamic, whileat the same maintaining our humantouch and a high standard of ethics.Accordingly and once again, we arehonoured and appreciative that so manyof our friends could join us for ourNew Year party and hope that the comingyear is a great success for all.From l to r: Mr. Ryoichi Akao, MD of OceanLink Shipping Pte Ltd with wife, Mr JunichiroToda, President of Toda Ship Co. Ltd. and AxelC. EitzenFrom l to r: Klaus Munk Andersen, CamilloEitzen, Singapore, Nina Eitzen and Mr. Peter D.Knudsen, Head of Shipping, Nordea Bank Norgewho won the golf tournament11