The second Directors’ meeting of the Club’s centenary year took place in New York at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. In addition to the North American delegates, Board members travelled from Australia, Chile, Ethiopia, Europe, Hong Kong, the Indian sub-continent, Korea and Taiwan to attend.
The model room of the New York Yacht Club’s Clubhouse provided a spectacular setting for a reception dinner for Directors, Managers and their partners after the first day’s meeting. The Clubhouse on 44th Street is also over 100 years old and celebrated its centenary in 2001.
In his speech at the dinner Chairman of the Board, Otto Fritzner, spoke of the Club's modest beginnings:
“ …providing cover for small coastal shipowners from around the Thames estuary, over the last hundred years Steamship has grown to be one of the largest and most successful P&I clubs in the world, currently writing premiums of US$300 million across more than 50 countries.”
Mr Fritzner also spoke of the continuing and growing support for the Club and its mutual principles from its American Membership, particularly over the last five years in which:
“… our North American entry has grown by 60% and premium has doubled. the number of members has increased by more than 50%, to over 60 fleets in many different trades. All first rate operators, many still family run. Our entry here is very diverse. It includes everything from the world’s two largest quoted cruise lines, to America’s most prestigious fishing fleet, to privately owned tug and barge operators. Over the course of the last three years we have been proud to welcome such names as Royal Caribbean, Vane Brothers, Crowley, A.E.P., Western Towboat, Hawaii Superferries, Veolia, Intermarine, Hornbeck and many others.”
The next Board Meeting is scheduled to take place on 27/28 July in Hamburg.
