Tsao Named Connecticut Maritime Association Commodore

The Connecticut Maritime Association announces that Frank Tsao has been named the 2002 recipient of the Association’s prestigious Commodore Award. Frank Tsao, Group Chairman of IMC Group of Companies based in Hong Kong, joins a long and distinguished list of maritime executives to have received the Award, which is given each year to a member of the international maritime community who has demonstrated leadership and commitment to the business.

Donald Frost, president of the Association stated, “Mr. Tsao has provided the international maritime community with quality service and enthusiastic leadership since he entered it. Mr. Tsao and his family have long been involved with many Connecticut Maritime Association members and companies and the CMA Board felt that he and his companies activities represent the potential and dynamism between East and West. Mr. Tsao has demonstrated a defining leadership that we feel will effect the way international shipping will be conducted for years ahead. We are pleased for Mr. Tsao and for the Association that he will be with us to receive the Award in March.”

Tsao began the illustrious Group of Companies he now Chairs with the founding of Great Southern Steamship Co., Ltd., in 1949. The shipping enterprise later evolved into International Maritime Carriers Co., Ltd. The next 30 years saw the company develop into one of the large publicly traded shipping companies in the Far East. Today their fleet comprises over 40 vessels, ranging from bulk carriers, oil tankers, chemical tankers, to general cargo and container ships. Just since 1992 the Group has ordered more than 20 vessels.

The group’s activities have spread throughout the world, but there are offices in Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Australia, the Netherlands, UK and US with staff of many different nationalities. The Group has interests in real estate, shipping, general transportation, and manufacturing.

While the day to day activities of the IMC Shipping Group, are managed by Tsao’s son, Frederick Tsao, a long and staunch supporter of the CMA through his role with INTERCARGO, CMA Commodore Tsao takes an active role in promoting Asian Shipping and cultivating shipping talents. Born in Shanghai, Tsao maintains a continual involvement in China. He is chairman of Great Asia Industrial Development Co. which concentrates from Hong Kong on investments and industries in China. The award is given each year at the Gala Dinner concluding the Association’s annual Trade Show and Conference. The event takes place this year over the days of March 18, 19 and 20, 2002 at the Westin Hotel in Stamford Connecticut.