Corporate Book 2014 | Rensen-Driessen Shipbuilding BV

Moneymaker Shows its true colours Warm welcome Until now we have always spoken with Erik Gasten on board on one of his ships. The hectic scenes on board contrast sharply with the setting of today’s meeting. When we arrive at the given address for the interview we see a very stylish house surrounded by a big garden and lots of trees. The amount of toys outside gives away the four children’s favourite playing area. A very enthusiastic and relaxed Erik Gasten answers the door and he immediately gui- des us to the dining room that is next to the kitchen. A large and cosy table with plenty of comfortable chairs makes you feel at home the moment you enter the room. The excellent fresh coffee that Erik serves us completes the warm welcome.

Tanker sector Tankers come into the picture as a result of commercial decisions Erik and his brother took. This leads to the or- der to build the tanker Cyrano that was delivered in 2010. A year later, Erik was confronted with two of the five bar- ges being unused due to external causes. He considers to spread his business by investing in a new tanker. Erik Gasten tells Wim Driessen from Rensen-Driessen Ship- building BV about his plans and within three days Dries- sen reports that he has found a buyer. A notary was as- ked to arrange the conveyance and that was the start of building a new tanker.

Dry cargo In this relaxed atmosphere the inevitable first question comes up easily ‘Where do your roots come from and how are you involved in inland shipping?’ Erik tells us that he and his brother Marc were born on the Orida, a Kem- penaar. With this ship their parents travelled the Dutch and Belgian canals. Later they bought larger vessels on which Erik sailed himself for three years after completing his training and receiving his patents. At the age of 22 Erik Gasten became an entrepreneur and he obtained an equal share of the pusher Odessa together with Pol and Gisele Maes. After five successful years they decided

to have a new pusher built that in time became wholly owned by Erik. He later sold the pusher to brother Marc and Gasten bought the ms Linjad that was equipped with a push bow. The brothers’ vessels had a combined car- rying capacity of five barges. More containers followed later. The Maes family again built a ship of which all mem- bers obtained equal shares: the estuary ship Amberes was completed in 2007. Four years later, a second estuary container ship, the ms Euroports followed, which currently sails Le Seine from Le Havre.

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