Li Kelin, former chairman of China Shipping Group, passed away in Shanghai yesterday at the age of 76.
Li was a veteran in the Chinese shipping industry and has been called the ‘father of the Chinese container shipping industry’. He started his career onboard Cosco ships from 1959 and become vice president of Cosco Group in 1993. During his years at Cosco, he successfully led the company’s fleet to expand into the international shipping market.
Li moved to China Shipping Group to become chairman in 1997 and retired in 2006, having thrust the company’s green hulls very firmly among the world’s liner scene.
Following his retirement, Li continued to serve as a consultant of China Shipping Group and in 2008 he also took over the chairmanship of Hainan PO Shipping, which went bankrupt in 2013.
