GT USA CEO Peter Richards Wins Excellence Award

Peter Richards, CEO of GT USA and Managing Director of Gulftainer, the largest privately-owned, independent port operator in the world, has been awarded the Golden Helm Excellence Award 2015 in the Trade and Export category by Sharjah’s International Maritime Club (IMC) in the United Arab Emirates.

“Gulftainer has recorded consistent growth over the past decade. 2015 has been a particularly exciting year for Gulftainer and myself, as we saw a major milestone with the opening of the company’s Canaveral Cargo Terminal following its expansion to the U.S. with a 35-year agreement at Port Canaveral, Florida,” Richards said.

“We have placed a strong focus on developing the maritime industry in the region by providing high level operations to international standards, and it is an honor to see our efforts recognized by our industry peers with this award,” said Richards.

With more than 12 years of seagoing experience and 28 years of expertise in the operation and management of Ports and Container Terminals, Peter Richards has played a key role in building Gulftainer’s reputation in its home ports, enabling the company to bring its competencies and productivity worldwide.

He has established the company’s credentials as a premier international port operator with an annual throughput of over 6 million TEUs, and he most recently took the reins to drive the company’s global expansion plan into the United States with the opening of GT USA, its North American division with headquarters in Florida.

GT USA, which is investing more than $100 million in Canaveral Cargo Terminal, was selected by the Port Authority to operate Canaveral’s first container terminal based on Gulftainer’s international experience in exceeding industry requirements and efficiency.  Under the strategic direction of Richards, GT USA is working to enhance the economic value of the port and encourage international carriers to make Canaveral the preferred port on the Florida East Coast. The port is an ideal gateway for meeting the needs of the Central Florida – Metropolitan Orlando Area, with its 2.5 million in population and growing number of warehouse and distribution centers.

The IMC Golden Helm Excellence Awards recognize individuals whose outstanding career achievements in shipping, marine, offshore and oil and gas fields have earned them national or international prominence in the maritime sector.

Sohan Roy, President of the Club, said: “Peter Richards has demonstrated commitment and vision, as well as entrepreneurial maturity, underpinned by Gulftainer’s growth and its contribution to Sharjah’s development as a logistics hub. With these awards we aim to identify the greatest in the industry every year. Peter Richards’ outstanding trade and export achievements throughout the years, alongside his ability to build strategic alliances and to surround himself with talented people in pursuit of success for all, made him the perfect candidate for this year’s award.”

Highlighting the company’s exceptional operations, Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) also received the Shipping Port of the Year honor at the 2015 Supply Chain & Transport Awards (SCATA) earlier this year.

Besides Canaveral, Gulftainer’s current portfolio covers UAE operations in Khorfakkan Port and Port Khalid in Sharjah as well as activities at Umm Qasr in Iraq, Recife in Brazil, Jeddah and Jubail in Saudi Arabia and in Tripoli Port in Lebanon, which will be operational in fourth quarter 2015.