The Royal Belgian Shipowners’ Association has elected Capt. Marc Nuytemans as the new Chairman of its Executive Board, succeeding Ludwig Criel. The election took place today during the Association’s Annual General Assembly.

The announcement marks a pivotal moment for the Belgian maritime sector, as Capt. Nuytemans—a veteran leader credited with rescuing the Belgian flag from obscurity—takes the helm to safeguard the industry’s hard-won gains.

Capt. Nuytemans, currently Strategic Advisor at NYSE-listed Excelerate Energy, steps into the role with a clear mandate: to ensure the revival he spearheaded two decades ago is not reversed.

A Legacy of Revival

In his acceptance speech, Capt. Nuytemans delivered a stark reminder of the sector’s near-collapse, contrasting it with its current global standing.

“We all know where we came from. Back then, the Belgian fleet was nearly fully flagged out to Luxembourg and other more exotic registries. We saw what that meant: less expertise, fewer jobs, less influence, and especially less revenue for the government,” he stated.

He highlighted the transformation under his previous stewardship of the Association during the presidency of Nicolas Saverys: “The total added value of the Belgian maritime cluster was not even 400 million euros. Today it stands close to 6 billion. The Belgian-controlled fleet now ranks 4th in Europe and 15th worldwide. This is no accident, but the result of entrepreneurship, investments, and craftsmanship.”

A Career at the Helm

A master mariner, Capt. Nuytemans transitioned from a distinguished seagoing career to shore-based leadership in 1997 as Fleet Personnel Manager at CMB. He took over as Managing Director of the RBSA in 2000, where he led the successful revival of the Belgian register.

He continued to shape the industry as CEO of Exmar Ship Management from 2009 to 2019, while maintaining his position on the Board of Directors at Brabo and the KBRV. He also led the Blue Cluster as CEO, a Flemish innovation hub for the blue economy. A staunch defender of maritime expertise, he also lectures on shipping at the University of Antwerp (C-MAT) and the Royal Higher Institute for Defence since 2000.

A Warning to Policymakers

Addressing Deputy Prime Minister Jan Jambon and EU policymakers directly, Capt. Nuytemans framed the preservation of the fleet as a matter of national economic security, not nostalgia.

“Preserve the competitiveness of the Belgian fleet,” he urged. “Not out of nostalgia. Not as a matter of course. But because it concerns Belgium’s trade balance, our ports, our maritime employment, our strategic autonomy, and ultimately, Belgium’s place in the world. Let us not treat lightly what has been regained in recent years. A strong Belgian fleet is not a given, but the result of vision, cooperation, and sustained effort. Together with you, I want to commit fully to that cause.”