LEADING the world’s largest shipping association can naturally be a busy job. Yet few have embraced the work and responsibility that comes with it like current president Sadan Kaptanoglu appears to have done in her first year at the helm.

Taking over from Anastasios Papagiannopoulos in the middle of the year, Ms Kaptanoglu has been widely visible across global fora, addressing all the challenges the industry faces, both internal shortcomings and external factors.

Being the head of Kaptanoglu Shipping, the BIMCO president can attest to the global challenges that tramp shipping in particular faces and can offer a practical perspective. 

BIMCO has continued to be vocal on issues around the 2020 sulphur cap and made its very own proposal to slash greenhouse gas emissions in the short term by reducing engine power.

In a year where seafarers and international shipping have been especially endangered in the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf of Guinea, BIMCO has been at the forefront of industry’s calls for greater international co-operation and protection.

Despite its already considerable size, BIMCO has proved to be keen on expansion. This year, it announced it is opening an Athens office in an effort to expand and better serve its Greece-based members.

Ms Kaptanoglu has also been vocal on the greater need of the industry to embrace diversity, underlying the practical reasons why it is beneficial

Within BIMCO, Ms Kaptanoglu will also oversee the transition in the leadership of the organisation's operations, as a new secretary-general takes over in 2020.

Angus Frew will step down as secretary-general next year after seven years in charge of running the organisation's operations.

Mr Frew has led the organisation some of the most challenging times for the industry and has expanded membership, making him one of the most key players in BIMCO’s continued success.

This is Ms Kaptanoglu's first appearance in the Top 100. BIMCO also appeared in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.