Alex Mullin Alex Mullin, who died suddenly this week in Newport, Wales, at the age of 56 was a former non-executive director of Irish Continental Group and past president of the Irish Chamber of Shipping.
He was also a member of the Irish Maritime Development Office's advisory council and was regarded as one of the leading figures behind the development of Ireland's passenger roll-on, roll-off ferry sector over the past three decades.
Born in Glasgow in 1947 and raised in Dublin, Mullin's career in shipping began just 19 years later when he joined the former State company, Irish Shipping Ltd, in 1966. He rose quickly through the management's ranks and was promoted to the position of treasurer in 1970, a post he held until 1972.
He was then appointed to the management team which was charged with setting up Irish Continental Line, the direct passenger ferry service between Ireland and France, which was developed with Irish Shipping's support as a major shareholder. The Irish-French route started its first sailings a year later, in 1973.
In 1977 Mullin was appointed financial controller of Irish Continental Line and became company secretary in 1983.
A year later Irish Shipping was put into liquidation by the Fine Gael-Labour coalition government, and more than 300 employees lost their jobs, life assurance cover and two-thirds of their contributory pension entitlements.
The Government had argued that the cost of liquidation was less than £50 million, and it would have cost the State £220 million to keep the company in business, but former employees maintain that the liquidation related to the Government's decision to commission building of the Irish Spruce and an offshore patrol vessel at the State-owned Verolme dockyard, Cork.
Throughout the controversy, Irish Continental Line continued operating and was acquired by new owners and floated on the Irish Stock Exchange in 1988.
Mullin was centrally involved in this development and in 1991 was appointed to the board of the new publicly quoted Irish Continental Group. This group then became actively involved in negotiations to merge with the State-owned B&I Line.
He was assigned as acting managing director of B&I Line, following the successful merger, and he spearheaded a rationalisation and reorganisation programme at the company.
In 1993, he became operations director of the new, enlarged Irish Continental Group at a time when the British and continental services were being marketed jointly under the Irish Ferries brand name.
He played an influential role in the investment of over €500 million in the group, including fleet modernisation. One new fast ferry, the Jonathan Swift, was built, and three new cruise ships, including the world's largest of its type, the Ulysses.
Mullin's position within the shipping industry was acknowledged in 1998 when he was elected president of the Irish Chamber of Shipping, and he was re-elected for a second two-year term in 2000.
As president, he was actively involved in efforts to improve the tax position applying to ship-owners and seafarers, and in work to promote careers in the merchant navy.
The tonnage tax campaign was highly successful, and his vision of the potential of the shipping sector was reflected in a video on careers in the merchant marine which was commissioned by the chamber with the Department of the Marine.
In 1999 he was appointed by the Minister for the Marine to serve as a member of the advisory council to the new Irish Maritime Development Office, set up to develop Ireland as an international shipping base.
He retired from the Irish Continental Group in March 2001, but continued to service as a non-executive director of the company. He was a keen golfer and member of Stackstown Golf Club and was also very active in St Mary's Rugby Football Club. Regarded as very generous and kind, in spite of the tough exterior he displayed in business, he often referred to his Scottish background when buying a round of drinks. Business associates emphasise his immense abilities, and the fact that he relished challenge.
"A man you would prefer as your friend rather than your enemy," one associate remarked in tribute. He was playing golf in Wales when he was taken ill earlier this week.
He is survived by his wife, Eilish, daughter, Clodagh, and sons, David and Alexander.
Alex Mullin: born April 17th, 1947; died May 17th, 2004