Jerry Nagel Receives Breakbulk Lifetime Achievement Award

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerry Nagel, chairman of the board at Rickmers-Linie (America) was the recipient of the 8th annual Lifetime Leadership and Achievement Award at the Wed., Oct. 26 kickoff of the 22nd annual Breakbulk Transportation Conference and Exhibition at the New Orleans Convention Center, attended by more than 3,600 breakbulk and heavy-lift industry executives.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111103/NY99140 )

Nagel, 62, has spent much of the past decade working as president and CEO at Rickmers-Linie (America) in Houston, where he oversaw the expansion of the carrier's business in the Americas. He started his shipping career at age 18 when he joined his father working on the New Orleans waterfront. Over the years, he worked in jobs of increasing responsibility at Seatrain Lines, Bank Line, Delaton Steamship, Binnings and Inchcape.

For much of the past two decades, Nagel has become well known throughout the breakbulk transportation sector as a vocal proponent of industry recruiting at the entry level and development of resources to reach young people who might be interested in a breakbulk career. He has spoken tirelessly at high school career days and developed "speaker squads" to talk to industry groups.

In accepting the award, Nagel credited the transportation industry as a whole for enabling him to do his job and achieve success. "I am not finished yet, I still have a lot to do," he said and talked about the new challenges facing him as he deals with pulmonary illness. "During the process of qualifying for a lung transplant, I have come to more fully understand the serious hardship, both financial and emotional that people without adequate insurance and other resources face when dealing with catastrophic illnesses. Just like the coordination and team work of our industry in performing its tasks, we must also take care of our own transportation industry family."

Nagel announced that he would spearhead the formation of a fund to assist members of the transportation industry from all sectors, modes and functions when these hardships occur. 

Nagel helped the Houston Maritime Museum relocate to a new venue and has used it as a springboard to attract students of all ages to the maritime industry. He has served as chairman of the West Gulf Maritime Association's education committee, which disseminates information about opportunities in the maritime industry to high schools and colleges. He also was a key supporter in the formation of Breakbulk Events' Education Day program, which, after one year, has held programs for more than 500 students and industry freshmen around the globe.

The Breakbulk Lifetime Leadership and Achievement Award has been presented annually since 2004. Recipients have included Erik F. Johnsen of International Shipholding Corp., F.H. Bedford of Jumbo Shipping, Roger Kavanagh of Intermarine, Eugene McCormick of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy's Alumni Association, Bertram Rickmers of Rickmers Linie, Edward W. DeFrancesco of Universal Landsea, and Capt. William Schubert of International Trade and Transportation.

Breakbulk Americas and Breakbulk Europe are the largest gatherings of top executives in the breakbulk, heavy-lift and project cargo transportation sectors, with Breakbulk Americas bringing together more than 3,000 industry leaders each year for two days of roundtable discussion and keynote addresses, providing insight on trends and challenges of today's volatile market, emerging trade lanes and the future of production in various energy sectors and other commodities markets.

About Breakbulk -- The Breakbulk (www.breakbulk.com) division of UBM Global Trade has been the most trusted source of intelligence for the breakbulk and project cargo industry since its first breakbulk conference in 1989. The Breakbulk division includes the bimonthly Breakbulk Magazine, three annual conferences and exhibitions, several two-day congresses, and access to business news articles, indices, archives and more on Breakbulk.com and the weekly e-newsletter, Breakbulk Newswire. Authoritative editorial content in the form of daily news and in-depth analysis ensure Breakbulk members have the data and information necessary to understand the issues facing the breakbulk, heavy-lift and project cargo shipping sectors. For membership information visit www.breakbulk.com/membership.

About UBM Global Trade -- UBM Global Trade is the leading provider of proprietary data, news, business intelligence and analytical content supporting commercial maritime, rail, trucking, warehousing and logistics industries worldwide. The company's portfolio of more than 100 online, print and interactive workflow business solutions includes The Journal of Commerce, Breakbulk, RailResource, PIERS and an array of international trade and transportation databases and directories. UBM Global Trade, a subsidiary of UBM LLC, is headquartered in Newark, NJ, with offices throughout the United States. For more information, explore www.ubmglobaltrade.com or call 800-223-0243 (+1-973-848-7250 outside the U.S. or Canada).

SOURCE UBM Global Trade