Dale Ploughman has served as a member of our board of directors and our Chief Executive Officer since May 20, 2008 and as the Chairman of our board of directors since July 21, 2010. He has over 46 years of shipping industry experience. From 1999 to 2011 Mr. Ploughman was the Chairman of the Bahamas Ship Owners Association, and from 2000 to 2005 he was the chairman of South African Marine Corporation (Pty) Ltd., a dry bulk shipping company based in South Africa. In addition, from 2005 to 2010, Mr. Ploughman served as president, chief executive officer and director of Golden Energy Marine Corp.

Mr. Ploughman also serves as president and chief executive officer of numerous private shipping companies controlled by members of the Restis family. From 1989 to 1999, Mr. Ploughman was the president of Great White Fleet, a fleet owned by Chiquita Brands International Inc., which was one of the largest shipping carriers to and from Central America. Mr. Ploughman has previously worked as president and chief executive officer of Lauritzen Reefers A.S., a shipping company based in Denmark, the managing director of Dammers and Vander Hiede Shipping and Trading Inc., a shipping company based in the Netherlands and as the chairman of Mackay Shipping, a shipping company based in New Zealand. He holds degrees in Business Administration and Personnel Management and Master's level Sea Certificates and was educated at the Thames Nautical Training College, HMS Worcester.