Anglo-Eastern’s COO – Europe shares insights from his experiences at sea and ashore, drawing on his background as a former Chief Engineer and operations leader across various types of vessels. We are privileged to have had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Klein before he sets sail into retirement this April
As COO – Europe at Anglo-Eastern, Harald Klein oversees AE’s managed fleet in Europe offices – namely bulk carriers, container ships, and specialty vessels (e.g. Ro-Ro carriers and offshore vessels) managed by four dedicated ship management offices in Hamburg, Antwerp, Goes (Netherlands), and London.
As a former Chief Engineer, Harald has over 15 years of seagoing experience gained primarily on-board DP drill ships, tankers and ro-ro carriers. He came ashore in 1995 and joined Anglo-Eastern in 2004, initially in Antwerp as Senior Superintendent, becoming Fleet Director in 2006, before being transferred to Hong Kong as Managing Director.
In 2018, he was appointed COO – Dry Ships Division, and following a restructuring of the Group’s dual COO function in 2021, took on the positions of COO – Europe and Managing Director of Anglo-Eastern (Germany) GmbH in Hamburg. Aside from his responsibilities at Anglo-Eastern, Harald is a member of various class technical committees.
Having encountered diverse scenarios across various ship types and subsequently served two decades at Anglo-Eastern, Harald Klein views seafaring and maritime operations as a “broad education.” He believes that being pragmatic, open-minded, and eager to learn can open many doors and prepare one for a wide range of activities.
Q&A
Career
How did you start your career in the maritime industry, and how was your maiden voyage when you first went to sea?
I started sailing in October 1979 on a training ship as a batch of 10 seafarers prior to being assigned to a Belgian company active in the petroleum business and the offshore sector. I found myself as an engineer on a DP drill ship, which was very exciting, and afterwards, I ventured onto tankers and Ro-Ro ships. Altogether, I sailed for 15 years on various types of ships, ultimately reaching the rank of chief engineer. It was an interesting journey within a multicultural environment.
My first voyage as a seafarer was on a general cargo ship from CMB. I went on a trip down to Congo and back. Sailing to different ports was very interesting for a young man at 19 years of age.
What brought you to Anglo-Eastern after you came ashore?
I came ashore in 1995 as a senior superintendent for the same company I had been sailing with. In 1998, I started to work as a site manager for what was then Exmar, which was part of the CMB group, at their newbuilding shipyard in Romania. I joined the ship management side again for Bocimar, Exmar, and Euronav.
In 2004, feeling a bit restricted in my career options, I came into contact with Mr. Liedts, and in November 2004, I went to Hong Kong for a six-week training. I joke about whether or not they “succeeded” in training me but that is how my Anglo-Eastern journey started.
What vessel types have interested you the most, and why?
From a young seafaring age, I was engaged in offshore vessels, mostly on DP drill ships and chemical tankers, where I became a chief engineer. I ended my seafaring career on Ro-Ro ships. I think all these types of vessels are the most interesting ones and if I were to go back to sea, I would choose these ships. They’re technically more complicated and more interesting, although I have enormous respect for people who sail on dry cargo ships like bulk carriers.
Memorable Experience
What are some of the highlights that you feel most proud of when looking back at your career?
When I was working for the CMB Group, I was managing a Euronav VLCC that was attacked in Yemen with a suicide bomb and subsequently caught fire. As senior super intendent, I was greatly involved in the damage assessment and reactivation of the ship, spending two weeks as the only crew member and the Chief Engineer on board alongside the SMIT Salvage team. The task was challenging, but I love challenges.
What else is challenging in ship management? As you know, there is always something new; you are always on a steep learning curve, whether it’s on the technical side or the human side. You’re awake and asking yourself, “How is that possible?” This is still very much a fact today.
What are some of the proudest moments during your time at Anglo-Eastern?
Anglo-Eastern is a great company and it’s a great team, so any success is a result of teamwork. That’s how I see it. As I’ve said, during my career at sea, I sailed with numerous nationalities. That’s a fact when you’re at sea—you can have teammates everywhere, and as long as you work as a team, you are bound for success. It is looking back at these moments where we have succeeded as a team that makes me feel most proud.
Industry & Culture
How would you describe your leadership style?
Sometimes a bit too hands-on, but with a healthy dose of delegation and the ability to crack a joke from time to time.
You’ve worked at sea and ashore, and after you came ashore, you’ve been stationed in Europe, Asia and back to Europe. In an industry that involves a diverse range of cultures, how do you navigate cultural differences in daily operations? Are there any principles that you follow when working with colleagues or clients from diverse cultures and backgrounds?
Be yourself. Maintain a sense of humour. A pat on the back helps with communication with most nationalities, but of course, when acting as a boss, you’re still the boss—you must know the nuances, walk a fine line regarding the code of cultural differences, distil the particulars, and act accordingly. When communicating with clients or negotiating, you must adapt to the locals, being friendly for starters, and politeness will guide you to where you want to be.
What is your advice for people who are starting their careers in the maritime industry, whether they are seafarers or shore staff?
Seafaring is a career you should pursue because you love it, not because you need a job. When you love your job, you will perform well, and this applies to both onshore and offshore work.
If you could send a message to your younger self, who just started working in the maritime industry, what would that message be?
The maritime industry is the right choice. There are some tweaks and fine-tuning required here and there, but such is life. Overall, I would consider my career to be one I am quite happy with, though time has of course flown by too quickly!
To motivate my younger self and those starting out in a similar position, I would say “whatever you do, do it with your full heart and deliver a good job, with honesty and integrity”.
When asked to share unforgettable experiences from work, Harald playfully remarked, “I’ve been involved in ship management for 30 years, so they probably come up after a beer or two, but it’s often in the bar where you hear the most interesting sea stories”.
