FEPORT Newsletter – March 2024

by admin March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024 319 views

Ms Cecilia Eckelmann-Battistello April 13, 1950 – March 6, 2024

Tribute to a great lady

The month of March, which usually offers in its first days the opportunity to celebrate women, has this year a sad taste. Indeed, on the 6^th of March 2024, one of the most inspirational women in the maritime sector has gone.

I had the privilege of meeting Ms Eckelmann-Battistello in Hamburg on a couple of occasions and have always been aware of the great opportunity to exchange with her be it about the cargo handling sector, FEPORT’s agenda or other issues.

Ms Cecilia Eckelmann-Battistello has been a model for many professionals in the maritime sector. She has been for sure a role model for many women.

As many commentators pointed out, Ms Eckelmann-Battistello has brought colour and a new leadership style to the industry. She has been a successful businesswoman in times where very few women managed companies. She has been the managing director of Contship Containerlines for ten years and was recognised as a real leader in a male dominated industry.

In 1998, after the sale of Contship Containerlines to CP Ships, she resigned as Board Chairwoman and became President of Contship Italia.

Under her leadership, Contship developed both in ports and in logistics and became a major actor in the industry. In parallel, from 2005 to 2010, Ms Eckelmann-Battistello has been President of FEPORT and developed a real vision for the industry.

All FEPORT members who met her and worked with her unanimously praise her charisma and her tremendous efforts to promote the role of the cargo handling industry. “FEPORT family” expresses its deep sorrow and condolences to Mr Eckelmann and all the family. Ms Eckelmann-Battistello will be missed.

I would like to finish this tribute with a message that Ms Eckelmann-Battistello often shared when she was asked about women confronted to the “glass ceilings” and barriers in a male dominated industry: “I think it is women who feel inadequate in a man’s world more than men creating obstacles” she said. In other words, sky is the limit if women trust and impose themselves.

Thank you and Rest in Peace Ms Eckelmann-Battistello

Ms Lamia Kerdjoudj, FEPORT Secretary General