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Mike Ball of Gearbulk (UK) Limited, has been elected as Chairman of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA). He will succeed current Chairman Chris Fisher of Bunker Claims International Ltd. with effect from April 2010.

Speaking at the Sixteenth Annual IBIA Dinner in London on February 15th, Mike Ball said: “I am deeply honoured and privileged to be assuming the chairmanship of IBIA. My aim is to make IBIA even more accessible than it already is.”

Commenting on the importance of representing its members, Ball said: “If we do not become involved in those issues which impact on our members, we face the increasing risk that our industry will be exposed to rules, regulations and standards imposed by third-party bodies which do not understand how we work, and over which we have little control.”

Ball added that work was continuing at IBIA which was expected to lead to the establishment of an internationally recognised professional qualification for the bunker industry.

Ball has extensive experience in the shipping industry having worked as a seagoing engineer officer, a bunker broking manager at H. Clarksons and as a trader for marine fuel supply firm Peninsula Petroleum.