Home > Breakbulk News > REGION > Europe > Jerry Nagel, Rickmers-Linie Executive, Dies

Jerry Nagel, Rickmers-Linie Executive, Dies

By on December 19, 2012
Photo of Nagel, presented with the Breakbulk Lifetime Achievement Award on Oct. 26, 2011.

Breakbulk and heavy-lift veteran promoted industry to students

Jerry Nagel, former chairman of Rickmers-Linie (America), died at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Nagel, 63, had more than 35 years of industry experience, directly responsible for the inland, domestic, international and ocean transportation of major heavy-lift and oversize cargoes. He spent eight years as president and chief executive officer of Rickmers-Linie (America), Inc. where he was responsible for all project and breakbulk shipping activities in the Americas. He was named chairman in June 2011 and served through mid-2012.

“With Jerry Nagel we are losing a truly outstanding colleague and friend. Representing a highly respected authority in the breakbulk industry, Jerry to a large part formed the image of our company in the United States,” said Rickmers-Linie GmbH & Cie. KG managing directors Rüdiger Gerhardt and Ulrich Ulrichs, in a statement.

Nagel, a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in Transportation Management and Economics, started his shipping career at age 18, when he joined his father working on the New Orleans waterfront. His experience included management positions with ocean carriers, ship agency, stevedoring, marine terminals, warehousing and trucking businesses. Nagel joined Rickmers in 2004 from Foster Wheeler Corp USA, where he had been the company’s traffic manager.

Nagel was awarded the eighth Breakbulk Lifetime Achievement Award at the 22nd annual Breakbulk Transportation Conference and Exhibition in October 2011.

Nagel was well known throughout the breakbulk transportation sector as a vocal proponent of industry recruiting at the entry level and for developing resources to reach young people who might be interested in a breakbulk career. He was a key supporter in the formation of Breakbulk Magazine and Events’ Education Day program.

Nagel helped the Houston Maritime Museum relocate to a new venue and has used it as a springboard to attract students to the maritime industry. He has served as Chairman of the West Gulf Maritime Association’s education committee, which disseminates information about opportunities in the maritime industry to high schools and colleges.

Nagel lived with wife Linda in Spring, Texas, where he was active in community and various service organizations.

In recent years, Nagel had been dealing with pulmonary illness. Funeral arrangements are pending.