On Thursday 23 October the Alderman of Economics, Harbour and Environment, Mr. M. Harbers decorated Mr. François (Frans) van Hoorn, Managing Director of Royal Dirkzwager, with the Rotterdam decoration known as the Johan van der Veekenpenning. Mr. Van Hoorn received this decoration at his farewell reception. He was praised for the manner in which he made Royal Dirkzwager grow from a traditional information company into a modern international maritime information and communication company, which connects all the different links in and around the port of Rotterdam.

As of 1 November Mr. Van Hoorn will, after ten years, officially leave as Managing director of Royal Dirkzwager. During his leadership the company grew out to be a world player in the area of information on shipping movements. Frans van Hoorn started his career in Africa at Nedlloyd’s predecessor Royal Interocean Lines. In 1979 he switched to Nedlloyd Bulk Shipping in the Netherlands and later on he moved up to the division Corporate Planning & Marketing. In 1984 he made the switch to Furness-daughter Seaport Terminals and became director. After twelve years he went to Furness-Pakhoed Logistics International. In 1998 he became the managing director of Royal Dirkzwager in Maassluis.

Under his leadership Royal Dirkzwager grew out to be a successful company which to this day is leading in streamlining maritime processes with the help of ICT. A large number of ICT-projects were successfully introduced under his leadership. Examples are PortCall, an online tool for the Rotterdam shipping agents and Ship2Report, an Internet application which allows users to follow the complete shipping movements of Western Europe on the computer screen.

In addition Frans van Hoorn was a member of the board of several maritime associations. He was chairman of the Association of Rotterdam Stevedoring Companies, member of the General Management of the port employers foundation SVZ, member of the Management Committee of the Port Authorities and member of the General Management of the Rotterdam Internal Logistics Foundation. He was also a member of General Management Europort Botlek Belangen and the Rotterdam Port Promotion Council. In addition he was president of the General Stevedoring Council, a group of worldwide operating stevedoring companies, which transfer knowledge and experience and promote the occupation of stevedore.