David Roberts is responsible for developing and implementing Gearbulk’s sustainability strategy, objectives and programmes and leading a group-wide sustainability steering group to help drive progress. In conjunction with Gearbulk’s technical management, he also evaluates fleet performance and identifies areas of underperformance as well as collaborating on new technologies and operational measures to enhance fleet fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

Gearbulk operates the world’s largest fleet of open hatch gantry crane vessels as well as open hatch jib crane vessels specifically designed to carry unitised cargoes such as forest products, non-ferrous metals and steel. Gearbulk is also involved in the transportation of conventional bulk cargoes and in terminal operations.

David represents Gearbulk in the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, an ambitious coalition of shipping leaders from around the world working to achieve a vision of a shipping industry that is both profitable and sustainable by 2040.

He started his career as an engineer cadet with the British shipping company Andrew Weir Shipping, rising to the rank of Chief Engineer Officer before progressing into technical management ashore in 1994. In 2003 he became the company’s Fleet Manager, responsible for the technical management of the company’s varied fleet of general cargo, roll-on roll-off military transport, container and passenger vessels.

David joined Gearbulk in 2008.