Atef Abou Merhi

Atef Abou Merhi, managing director and one of the founding members of Pelagic Partners, is a highly experienced shipping professional. He also sits on the boards of all investments that fall under Pelagic, including joint ventures.

Through the Abou Merhi Group, his family-owned business, Atef is a second-generation shipowner. For more than three decades, this group has specialised in a range of maritime and logistics investments.

Pelagic Partners invests in segments including dry bulk carriers and CSOVs (commissioning service operation vessels). The latter is a type of vessel designed for use in the commissioning and operation of offshore wind parks, often working in challenging weather conditions – they require advanced dynamic positioning and high operational windows to maximize the uptime of offshore operations. Pelagic Partners also invests in the gas carrier, PCTC, tanker and offshore support vessel segments.

Pelagic Partners’ ability to be present across the entire value chain means that its partners have the opportunity to join the company to become active players within the shipping industry, which controls 90% of worldwide trade.

Golden Energy Offshore Services is a fully integrated shipowner and a publicly listed company that operates a fleet of high-specification and modern offshore service vessels for the global gas and oil service industry. Atef is a board member at this company, which aims, where possible, to achieve cost-effective operations and optimal investor returns. Golden Energy Offshore Services’ strategy is maintaining customer focus while delivering consistent and high-quality services in alignment with customer demand.

Atef holds a diploma with merit in Ship Finance, a BSc (Hons) in Ship and Port Management and an MBA, the latter awarded in 2018 by the IE Business School.