Good cheer abounds as scrapping folk put rivalries to one side

Demolition brokers, cash buyers and shipbreakers were in good cheer at a dinner organised by TradeWinds Events in London’s Rasa W1 restaurant this week. Perhaps buoyed by healthy scrap volumes this year, professional rivalries were put aside as guests got to grips with the Kerala menu.

Several young entrants to the market helped to reduce the average age of the assembly including Ben Edwards of Clarksons Platou, Oliver Atherton of Affinity Shipping and Max Dean of Dubai Trading Agency who is the son of Nick Dean.

Always one to take the initiative, versatile broker Darren Lepper of Clarksons Platou displayed hidden talents as a caterer, briefly taking over the bar until a good-natured if slightly confused waiter returned from a short break.

Despite the lateness of the hour, not all business was put on hold with Vagelis Chatzigiannis of GMS spotted working a mobile phone on each ear with a third being used to read documents.

A delegation from India included the new SRIA Hon. Secretary Ramesh Aggarwal of Hooghly Shipbreakers, Haresh Parma of Shiv Shipbreaking, Sanjay Mehta of Priya Blue and Chintan Kalthia of RL Kalthia, said to be on course to become the first Indian yard certified as compliant with the Hong Kong Convention.