From a reader
Quote
Hey VS,
I love your blog! Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough, but no
other website out there provides the value that yours does. I instinctively get
the feeling there isn't a better site in terms of shipping than yours, because I
love this industry and have scoured the web for hours looking for shipping
websites.
I have a quick question for you, as you are someone I respect
and you also have tons of insight into this industry. What separates the average
joe from someone like Mr. Fredriksen? His family was working class, but he still
managed to build an empire for himself.
He "started trading oil in the
1960s in Beirut, bought his first tankers in the 1970s, ran crude oil for Iran
in the 1980s." How do you go from simply trading to buying tankers worth
millions upon millions of dollars? Why Beirut? Did he go for the connections?
I'd be very appreciative of any insight you could give here!
Best
regards,
James
Unqte
Good question! I will write an answer in the next day or two. If any readers want to have a go at the answer shoot!
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI know that Lebanon had a pretty stable period in the 60's. It was the so called "Paris of the Middle East". Maybe it was good developments in the oil and tanker market at that time?
As for the Iran case, and I am referring to "Inside Shipbroking" now, Iran and Iraq was in a terrible war, and due to the high risks taken, the earnings was thus pretty high aswell.
To VS: Just read Inside Shipbroking, and it was awesome and informative! I will mail you concerning one of the chapters! :-)
-MS
Thanks you for the plug. In one message you referenced my book, promoted my book and offered an answer to a blog question.
DeleteYou are welcome here anytime!
VS