Influential shipper Cambon dies

Cambon

   Jean-Louis Cambon, the influential chairman of the European Shippers’ Council’s Maritime Transport Council, and a major advocate for global shippers, died at age 59, the council announced last week.
   Cambon, who was also head of the ocean management committee for tire manufacturer Michelin, had cancer.
   “Jean-Louis was major figure in the liner shipping arena, often out-spoken, always considerate of all positions in the arguments and issues which were put to him and shippers in general, and always a gentleman,” the council said, in a statement. “He quickly became widely respected in liner shipping circles, his opinion and insights following a long carrier with shipping lines and then with Michelin were always keenly sought-after by all sides of the industry, and not least by the ESC itself.”
   He was also outspoken againt the liner shipping conference system. The ESC also credited him with establishing an initiative to study a “green box” strategy, a way to minimize multi-party container handoffs.
   “He was keenly developing multimodal options for his company, shifting as many containers off the road onto inland waterways and rail as was possible, and he shared with others his experiences with this strategy,” ESC said. “He was also very keen to ensure the shippers’ voice was heard on the growing problem of piracy, urging governments to stand-by shipping to protect it and allow trade to flow unhindered.”
   Prior to joining Michelin in 2000, Cambon worked for the liner carrier OOCL for nearly a decade. He first came to the shipping industry via a stint at the French carrier CGM. – Eric Johnson