Ex-ELAA boss Chris Bourne makes Queen's Honours List as MBE recipient

CHRIS BOURNE, former executive director of the now defunct European Liner Affairs Association (ELAA), that failed to stop the EU ban against his rate-setting organisation, has now appeared on the Queen's New Year's Honours List as an MBE, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

"It was a nice surprise for someone who has worked for 47 years in the industry," Mr Bourne said.

Former MOL (Europe) managing director, Mr Bourne was appointed ELAA chief at a time when container lines were facing the end of the conference system in Europe and were pressing for guidelines on the new regulatory regime.

Awarded in recognition of his services to the maritime industry, Mr Bourne retired in July after a career that included time in the ports sector, running the European arm of a major Japanese line, and heading up a Brussels-based container shipping lobby group.

When the ELAA job ended with a law that banning activities of such organisations, he was asked to chair the UK Joint Strategic Board, which was assigned to find efficiencies and synergies between the three lighthouse authorities responsible for navigational safety around the British Isles.