Former head of IMIF, Jim Davis, dies aged 92
Outspoken “giant” of shipping industry, Jim Davis, has died.
One of shipping’s best-known figures, Jim Davis, has died at the age of 92, reports TradeWinds. Davis was chairman of the International Maritime Industries Forum (IMIF) until 2015 and was known for his charisma and humour.
Davis worked his whole life in the industry and held numerous executive and consultancy positions, working at P&O, Kleinwort Benson, the foresight Group, ABP, DFDS, ClassNK, Bureau Veritas, and the Tsavliris Group.
He won the nickname “Scrapper Jim” for his regular admonishment of the shipping industry for oversupplying tonnage, arguing that fewer ships should be ordered and more demolished and his trademark risqué humour made him popular as host of the IMIF’s annual dinner.
Denmark awarded him the Commander’s Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog and Britain made him a Commander of the British Empire in recognition of his contribution to trade relations between Denmark and Britain.
His daughter Katrina Davis, who followed him into shipping, said her family had received messages of condolence from across the industry. She said her father was devoted to the industry: “He loved it, he breathed it,” she said.
Norton Rose Fulbright senior consultant Harry Theochari described Davis as “without question one of the giants of the modern industry”.
Davis is survived by wife Hanny and three daughters.
