Philippe Donche-Gay delivering his speech…
Anniversaries in ship-shape style, accuracy and elegance, the participants as well as the venues are renown in the maritime world and members of the international shipping fraternity do enjoy these very rare and simple occasions to the full; one of these very special anniversaries is Bureau Veritas’ Annual Beaujolais Evening which took place earlier on tonight at the magnificent surroundings of Trinity House, which last year celebrated its 500th Anniversary. Not only its location, but also the elegance of the building and the versatility of its rooms make Trinity House an extremely desirable venue for social and corporate events. John Faraclas reports:
A full house…
For the record, tradition and history, today is The day when bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau, the new wine from the first harvest of grapes in the Beaujolais region of France, are officially released. The wine is intended for immediate drinking and it is served chilled. Beaujolais Nouveau is released on the third Thursday of each November.So, today,Thursday, November 19, is the Beaujolais Nouveau day.
Humour at its best!
Our hosts, Philippe Donche-Gay, executive vice-president and head of Bureau Veritas’ Marine & Offshore Division and Yannis Calogeras, marine chief executive of Bureau Veritas UK, not only entertained us in style but did send a strong message that we have nothing to fear and shipping is business as usual. I am saying this due to the latest atrocities within a week, in Paris and Beirut, which where appropriately phrased in the opening of Donche-Gay’s speech.
Paillette Palaiologou, Bureau Veritas top gear…
His account on the year that has gone by as well as for the year and years to come for BV and shipping in general, was brief, nicely delivered and well understood, with the additional references to offshore, industry, ports and terminals as well as the hospitality and tourist sectors, ah! and the military – a non-tiring slides presentation, were amongst others, he congratulated Paillette Palaiologou, the recently appointed as Bureau Veritas’ Marine Marketing & Sales Director within the Marine & Offshore Operating Group. Philippe Donche-Gay is a very harismatic speaker and his humour second to none – the British have now a word for it! His speech and style warmed up the event and due to the mood prevailing these days/period (state of the markets and geopolitics), he has boosted our moral!
Philippe Boisson and Aline De Bievre
And now to the people, our friends, who for many years have supported us as well as the industry in its entirety: Philippe Boisson, the Communication Director and Legal Advisor, from the Marine Division Management was there too and many others from the various divisions of Bureau Veritas and members of this IACS Classification Society, as earlier on in the day, the annual BV London meeting took place.
Costas Amarantidis, Jim Davis and Anny Zade
Coming to guests; who wasn’t there: Jim Davis, as always, heading the Square Mile’s shipping fraternity; the Chairman of IMIF (International Maritime Industries Forum) is also a Member of Bureau Veritas’ Advisory Board and we got him in a great mood! The Andreas Papadakis team from A.P & A Limited was there headed by Andreas himself, son George and colleague Andriana Wysocka; Andreas Foustanos from HESGB and Andros Maritime Limited and HESGB, George J. Margaronis from Helikon Shipping London and HESGB, George Demetriou from Lomar Shipping Ltd and HESGB, Captain Peter Green from Barbados Maritime, Costas Amarantides (HESGB member too) with newcomer Maria Syllignaki at the GSCC (Greek Shipping Co-operatio Committee), Fred Hardy former Bureau Veritas head in London as well as Rose Cornahe – still going strong and always smiling, and of course Lisa Burton Bureau Veritas’ London Marine Centre Manager and her team.
Silling faces: Yiannis Calogears, Victoria Mott and Struan Robertson
Also spotted Aline De Bievre – an old member of the media fraternity, but young and pragmatic in thinking journalist colleague, Captain Roger Holt, Victoria Mott from IMIF and Fairdeal, Struan Robertson from Clarksons, the ever present Ken McLean from MMCA and Peter Cowling from the Old Curates House.
Janet Porter from informa lead the journalists group. Olga Jaques was there too, Adam Corbett from Tradewinds, Ines Nastali from the Marine Professional, Nick Savvides from RINA’s Naval Architect, Namrata Nadkarni from IMarEST, Sandra Spears and many others.
Paillette Palaiologou and Anny Zade
Congratulations to John Guy and his team at Merlin Communications for organising and directing this event! Chris Hewer too was on a great day!
Ah! the food and drinks, mangnifique! That was an excellent buffet and the dips too served …classy for a Class Society… eh! Tray after tray after tray, hips!
All guests were given a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 from the Louis TETE’s winery production, as well as interesting reports, news booklets and other gifts! The comic ones boosting our moral yet again! Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive! We look forward hearing the tasters’ view! Santé!