Comment by Anonymous - Tuesday 30 June 2009
Marcus Hand in his blog and Keith Wallis in the main section were both quick to report on the departure of Khan from ESL. However, even after 2/3 weeks since T.S.Chen has resigned from his position at Emirates Shipping Line as Chairman he remains unsung and un-reported? Is this on purpose or has the active marketing department in ESL been made redundant due to recession? Is this also the end of the road for ESL?

Comment by Anonymous - Wednesday 13 May 2009
If one has had his ear to the ground and has been following Emirates Shipping Line's activities over the last year this would come as no surprise. There is definitely "More than what meets the Eye". The accolades bestowed on Khan in one of the responses here may point that the previous commentor knows Khan well; yes Khan was well known for his nepotism but was that also responsible for his departure from Emirates Line? Is it not a little difficult to digest that the Executive Director and member of the board of Emirates Line is Taiwanese?

Comment by Anonymous - Friday 1 May 2009
No one can survive "alone" in the current global environment, especially in the container business. All the carriers have posted losses large enough to drain their reserves, and what is left is rapidly going towards new-building commitments - which are a grind-stone around most strategic necks at the moment. Companies are either leaning on banks, or on other divisions in the company that may have had better fortunes, or on reserves at the holding level. Some are leaning on the ship-owning interests, while others like Vikas Khan have made a strategic move and exited in a positive business frame. This tsunami has as yet not started beaching the many companies wrecked by poor economic policies and execution, and while individual box yields may have begin to hold, the overall environment is still far from buoyant. The accumulated losses will progressively lead to an ugly dance of survival. And speaking of Vikas Khan: there does not exist a better shipping brian and strategist in the industry. One who things far enough ahead, leverages his assets masterfully, and draws on relationships and loyalties exceptionally. His crystal ball allows him to define and execute strategy that allowed Emirates to "surf" or for him to exit with dignity.

Comment by Mr. Aly-Khan Satchu - Thursday 30 April 2009
Shipping cycles have always displayed high beta boom and bust cycles with very fat tails. Emirates Shipping lines surfed the wave when it was already a Tsunami and now the tide is out.