JIM Lawrence, one of the best known and most familiar faces in shipping on the east coast of the US, died in the early hours of Sunday morning after a long illness.

He was the face of the Connecticut Maritime Association annual CMA conference, which he established and built into an event that has endured for more than 30 years.

Jim was universally recognised as a man who promoted international shipping and its importance to the US. He also used the CMA conference as a vehicle to promote critical regulatory and safety developments affecting shipping.

At the time of his handing the management of CMA to Lloyd’s List’s previous parent company, Informa, in 2018, Jim said: “My duty of care to the CMA after 30 years was to see the event into safe hands.” He continued in an advisory role to support his beloved CMA.

Jim Lawrence seemed to know everybody who was anybody in shipping and was able to broker bridge-building between big personalities who often did not see eye to eye on matters of reform and regulatory direction.

He could also uniquely convince the biggest executives in global shipping to don the silliest headgear — and be photographed as such — as Commodore at the annual CMA dinner.

Jim was also chairman of Marine Money, trusted by many as the global journal of record for ship finance, which he founded almost 40 years ago, and which now holds conferences around the world.

After working for Lloyd’s List in the late 1980s, in 1990 Jim co-founded MTI Network, the global crisis communications company for the maritime industry that has served shipowners, shipmanagers, terminal operators and offshore companies.

In honouring Jim Lawrence with its Distinguished Public Service Award in 2019, the US Coast Guard said: “He inclusively brought world-renowned leaders and experts from the maritime industry, as well as the regulatory and the financial sectors. Most importantly, he never lost sight of shipping’s most important resource, the mariners, as he diligently ensured their voices were included,”

To that end, it is important to acknowledge Jim Lawrence’s involvement with the Seamen’s Church Institute on which he served as a board member since 2010.

Lloyd’s List recognises Jim Lawrence as one of US shipping’s most significant figures in recent generations. And one of its true gentlemen. Our condolences go to his family.