56
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.
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.
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.
