Senior Personnel

RICHARD W DE LA ROSA FICS
Managing Director

Richard is a founder director of Astralship. He qualified as a member of The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) in 1999 and was promoted to a Fellow of the Institute in 2005.

He commenced his maritime career as a Boarding Clerk working for MH Bland + Co in Gibraltar for six years between 1988 and 1994, where he gained valuable practical experience of port agency operations.

In 1995 he joined Marine Service Shipping (Gibraltar) Ltd as a trainee shipbroker. He undertook his examination papers for the ICS, covering the Sale + Purchase of new and 2nd hand tonnage, dry cargo chartering and tanker chartering.

During the early part of the millennium, the company under went an extensive fleet renewal program and Richard was instrumental in providing the correct support and information throughout this period. Richard is fully conversant with all the major documentation required to perform a successful sale or charter, in particular the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) precedents.

In March 2010, Richard established Astralship, Gibraltar’s first ship broking house.

Contact: agency@astralship.com | snp@astralship.com

CAPTAIN PAUL TOWNSEND
Master Mariner, FIIMS - Non Executive Director

Paul Townsend joined the Merchant Navy as a Cadet with Clan Line, studying at Warsash Maritime College, and obtaining his Master’s Certificate in 1969.

In 1971, he came ashore to join Southampton Harbour Board, which later became part of Associated British Ports, as Marine Officer. In the early 1980s, Paul moved to Kuwait as a Lloyd’s Surveyor and became an advisor to the Kuwaiti Royal Family, assisting in the successful acquisition of a Royal Yacht.

Paul then returned to the U.K., revalidated his Master’s Ticket, and joined Stena Line as Master in their High Speed Passenger Catamarans. Paul developed a keen interest in the new technology which lead him into High Speed Routes worldwide - Italy/Sicily, Airport/Hawaii City, Vancouver/ Victoria Island. Research into a proposed new route brought Paul to Gibraltar, where he and his family decided to settle.

Paul subsequently joined the Gibraltar Port Department as Port Surveyor, deputising as Captain of the Port as required. Having qualified as I.S.M. Lead Auditor, he introduced Port State Control into Gibraltar. He is qualified I.S.P.S. Compliant and is particularly conversant with I.L.O. Convention (2006) and has been asked to attend I.M.O. in his capacity as Fellow of the International Institute of Marine Surveying.

Paul’s experience in risk prevention and quality control is invaluable to Astralship.

Contact: agency@astralship.com