The People Behind the Company - Ashore

Our senior management has a combined shipping experience more than 250 years. Over 140 persons working in Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Myanmar and Philippines, UNIVAN has established a solid network of shared knowledge.

 
A S Maniyar
Assistant to Chairman
management@univan.com.hk
Joined Univan in 1992 as Accounts Executive and was promoted as Chief Accountant in March 1996. After working more than 10 years as Head of Accounts, since October 2006, he is elevated to his present position wherein he is assisting Capt. Vanderperre for supervision of all day to day company affairs. He completed his Masters degree in Commerce from Bombay University, India in the year 1986 and is also qualified Chartered Accountant (CPA) from India since 1987. He has vast experience of over 18 years in all areas of Ship owning and Ship management. Before joining Univan in 1992, he has worked in a ship owning division of a prominent listed company in Bombay, India from 1988 to 1992. Prior to this, he worked 1 year with a group of companies involved in trading, exports, tea plantations & tea manufacturing apart from mandatory 3 years of work experience for his CPA.

Victor Y.K. Lo
Head of Investment Division
victor.lo@univan.com.hk
Mr. Lo is the longest servicing employee of Univan and has put in 30 years. He joined Univan as Assistant Accountant in 1977 and got promoted to Chief Accountant of Univan in 1978. He worked as Chief Accountant from 1978 to 1991.Since 1991 he holds the position as Deputy Director of Univan and is responsible for investments, finance and joint venture projects.

Raja Ram
Head of Financial Division
accounts@univan.com.hk

Mr. Raja Ram Kogta joined Univan in 1998 as Accounts Executive. He has been the Head of Accounts Department since October 2006. Mr. Kogta received Bachelors in Science (B.Sc.) degree with merit from Ajmer University, Ajmer in 1988, Cost Accountant (AICWA) with merit in 1991 and Chartered Accountant (ACA) in 1992. He has 8+ years experience of working in finance and accounting with shipping and ship management firms. Before joining Univan, he had worked for 4 years with trading firm in Singapore, Hong Kong and 3 years with an industrial company in Mumbai. He also worked with a reputed Chartered Accountant firm in Mumbai for the mandatory 3-year training.

Eric Cheung
Head of Administration Division
administration@univan.com.hk
Mr. Cheung has an extensive shipping experience of over 21 years. Mr. Cheung started his shipping career at Univan in 1980 and worked in Fleet Personnel Department for 5 years. He had worked as Crew Manager in Anglo Eastern from 1985 to 1988. After 1988, Mr. Cheung had taken an overseas employment in Canada before rejoining Univan in January 1992 as Administration Manager and looked after company¡¦s administration and personnel matters. During his tenure with Univan, he has worked in different Departments. He was Head of Purchasing from 1997 to 2000 in Technical Department and he is also Company Security Officer since 2003.

Capt Vikrant Gusain
Business Manager
business@univan.com.hk
Capt.Vikrant Gusain joined Univan as Deck Cadet in year 1990. He sailed on various company flag ships and got elevated to the post of Master in year 2003. Capt.Gusain has commanded Chemical tankers and a Crude Oil tanker in past and has extensive Crude/ product/ chemical tanker experience in management level. He has also sailed in the company¡¦s dry-cargo fleet until the rank of 2nd officer. He joined Univan office as Safety and Quality Auditor in Jan 2006 and held responsibilities such as carrying out ISM internal auditing, preparing VLCC¡¦s for vetting inspections, onboard training etc. Capt.V.S.Gusain is presently incharge of Business Development Division of the company.

Rajesh Kantharia
Head of Fleet Personnel
personnel@univan.com.hk
Commenced sea-career as Radio Officer with Varun Shipping in 1987. Subsequently, a career of 9 years with Bergesen D.Y. A/S, was culminated by accepting the challenge of a job ashore with Race Shipping as Assistant Marine Superintendent in 1997. After having accepted job profiles with ever increasing responsibilities, joined Univan Mumbai office on 19th Jan 2006 as Deputy General Manager and subsequently promoted as Manager-Mumbai in June 2008. Serving as Head of Fleet Personnel since 1st October 2008.

G K John
Head of Fleet Coordination & Planning Section
personnel@univan.com.hk
Mr. John joined the Univan in 1989 as a Radio Officer and served on company's various vessels. In 1994, he joined the Crew Department at Hong Kong Office as a Deputy Head. Since 1st January 2006, he is working as a Fleet Personnel Co-ordinator after the Indian Manning activities was shifted to Mumbai Office.

Capt Abhijit Ghosh
Head of Chartering & Traffic Section
operations@univan.com.hk
Graduated from T.S.Rajendra in 1991 with first class distinction. Joined Univan in 1993 and served on board all types of Tankers till 2005 . Grew up to the rank of Master in 2003 and was in command of several VLCC¡¦s during his sailing tenure in the company. Served as the DPA of the Univan fleet and was in charge of the safety , Quality & vetting department of the company in 2006- 2007. Presently heading the Chartering & the Vetting department.

Capt Arlton Alves
Head of Safety Quality Section
sqm@univan.com.hk
Capt. Arlton Alves joined sea in the year 1994, he sailed in Univan as a cadet & 3rd officer. During his sea career he sailed mostly on oil & chemical tankers. He left sea in 2006, as a sailing Master to seek employment ashore with Selandia Marine services as a safety, quality & training consultant in Dec 2006. In September 2007 he left Selandia Marine services to join Univan ship management limited at their Hong Kong office. Since then he has worked with the safety & quality department. He now heads the department & is also the DPA for the entire fleet.

N K Jha
Head of Maintenance Group A Section
groupA@univan.com.hk
Bachelor in Engineering with Mechanical Branch. He has done One year Marine engineering from DMET, Calcutta. Joined as marine engineer in year 1993 and grew up to the rank of chief engineer in year 2002. Mr. N.K.Jha working in Univan office from January, 2005. He has sailed on tankers, bulk Carriers, containers, car carriers and heavy lift.
Sudeep Ghosh
Head of Maintenance Group B Section
groupB@univan.com.hk
Graduated in marine engineering from D.M.E.T Kolkata in 1996, he joined shipping career in October 1996 as junior engineer and thereafter grew up through the ranks to become chief engineer. He had sailed on containers, bulk carriers, tankers and PCC during his tenure at sea till March 2006. He is working with Univan since June 2006.
Ranjan Varghese
Head of Construction Section
techproj@univan.com.hk
Dr. Varghese joined Univan in 2006 for making contributions to the company for Shipyard evaluation, new vessel design evaluation, specification reviews, vessel customization for keeping the owners interests, related new building, plan approvals and ship conversion projects. At present he is looking after the new building projects for the company spread over South Korea and China. Prior to joining Univan, he has been involved with the LNG Membrane type hull structure design team in the Daewoo Ship Building and Marine Engineering Company in South Korea where he contributed immensely into new buildings to improve the rate of production during the period of five years stay and received his Ph D in Shipbuilding Management from Chosun University.