Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent | May 16, 2012 10:26AM EDT
Jean-Louis Cambon, a prominent campaigner for shippers and a constant scourge of liner conferences, has died after a long illness. He was 59.
Cambon was widely respected for his in-depth knowledge of liner shipping, gained from working on both sides of the industry, first for ocean carriers and then as head of the ocean management committee at French tire manufacturer Michelin.
Cambon was an active member of the Shippers Council in his native France and became chairman of the European Shippers Council’s influential Maritime Transport Council in March 2010.
Cambon, a regular speaker at industry conferences and events, was known for his forthright and outspoken views, in contrast to the low profile adopted by most shippers. “He spoke out and he spoke up for shippers in all manner of public forums,” the Brussels-based ESC said in a statement.
“To the end, Jean-Louis had been passionate about a competitive, efficient and service-driven liner shipping industry, providing the quality of freight services which industry needed and opposing the liner shipping conference system which he had experienced on both sides of the fence – as a carrier employee and as a shipper.”
Cambon launched a “green box” strategy to explore how empty container movements could be minimized through a multi-party container exchange system.
He developed multi-modal options for Michelin, shifting as many containers as possible off the road and onto inland waterways and rail.
Cambon also was determined to ensure shippers’ views were heard on the growing problem of piracy, urging governments to protect shipping and allow trade to flow unhindered
Contact Bruce Barnard at brucebarnard47@hotmail.com.