Rigel Shipping Ltd, Floor 2 Birchin Court,
20 Birchin Lane, London, EC3V 9DU
Phone: +44 207 538 4024
Mobile: +44 7506 174011
Email: info@rigelshipping.co.uk
© 2025 Rigel Shipping Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Rigel Shipping is a registered company in the United Kingdom, Company Registration No.1319709, VAT No.245133290. All content, designs, and materials on this website are the intellectual property of Rigel Shipping and are protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use or reproduction of any content from this website without prior written consent is prohibited. For further information, please review our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Ready to set your course with us?
Ready to set your course with us?
Ready to set your course with us?
Explore current opportunities and take the first step towards a rewarding future at Rigel Shipping.
Explore current opportunities and take the first step towards a rewarding future at Rigel Shipping.
Rigel Shipping Ltd, Floor 2 Birchin Court,
20 Birchin Lane, London, EC3V 9DU
Phone: +44 207 538 4024
Mobile: +44 7506 174011
Email: info@rigelshipping.co.uk
© 2025 Rigel Shipping Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Rigel Shipping is a registered company in the United Kingdom, Company Registration No.1319709, VAT No.245133290. All content, designs, and materials on this website are the intellectual property of Rigel Shipping and are protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use or reproduction of any content from this website without prior written consent is prohibited. For further information, please review our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
The company Board of Directors at Rigel Shipping was expanded with Ben Gogarty and Michael Lawrence joining the Board on 1st August 2023.
Patrick Kirkness
He started his shipping career in 2007 with a small Operator in London before being sent on a years secondment to a ship broking company in Singapore. After a brief return to London in 2008 he took the opportunity to return to Singapore in 2009 and continue his shipbroking career there. Predominately focused on the Supramax segment he initially worked the spot market before moving to focus on longer term period business in 2013. He returned home to the UK, and to London in the spring of 2019. He had of course known Rigel Shipping and their fantastic reputation throughout his career and in Summer of 2022 jumped at the opportunity to join our fantastic team here in our new offices in the city of London.
Katerina Kalaitzian
Career in shipping started late 2010 as a chartering assistant and dry cargo operator in a ship broking office in Athens, where she was handling the vessels for our exclusive shipowners. At the same time, she was working as a Marine Lubricants trainee for the same employer. Three years later, she joined Carriers Shipbrokers, also based in Athens as an operator for eight months then she relocated to London to join GFI. Almost three years later, she moved to Andros Maritime, a Greek shipowner and from there to Clarksons, where for four years she worked as a Dry cargo operator. In June 2022, she joined Rigel Shipping as an Operations manager.
Tracey Franklin
After spending the last 18 years working in the commercial property development and investment sector she felt it was time for a career change. She's now looking after day to day administration whilst looking after the Brokers needs as well.
The company Board of Directors at Rigel Shipping was expanded with Ben Gogarty and Michael Lawrence joining the Board on 1st August 2023.
Toby Watts
Patrick Kirkness
He started his shipping career in 2007 with a small Operator in London before being sent on a years secondment to a ship broking company in Singapore. After a brief return to London in 2008 he took the opportunity to return to Singapore in 2009 and continue his shipbroking career there. Predominately focused on the Supramax segment he initially worked the spot market before moving to focus on longer term period business in 2013. He returned home to the UK, and to London in the spring of 2019. He had of course known Rigel Shipping and their fantastic reputation throughout his career and in Summer of 2022 jumped at the opportunity to join our fantastic team here in our new offices in the city of London.
Katerina Kalaitzian
Career in shipping started late 2010 as a chartering assistant and dry cargo operator in a ship broking office in Athens, where she was handling the vessels for our exclusive shipowners. At the same time, she was working as a Marine Lubricants trainee for the same employer. Three years later, she joined Carriers Shipbrokers, also based in Athens as an operator for eight months then she relocated to London to join GFI. Almost three years later, she moved to Andros Maritime, a Greek shipowner and from there to Clarksons, where for four years she worked as a Dry cargo operator. In June 2022, she joined Rigel Shipping as an Operations manager.
Tracey Franklin
After spending the last 18 years working in the commercial property development and investment sector she felt it was time for a career change. She's now looking after day to day administration whilst looking after the Brokers needs as well.
2024 New starters
2024 New starters
2023 New directors
2023 New directors
NEWS
New joiners and retirement news
at Rigel Shipping
New joiners and retirement news at Rigel Shipping
New joiners and retirement news at Rigel Shipping
2022- 2025
2022 New starters
2022 New starters
The company Board of Directors at Rigel Shipping was expanded with Ben Gogarty and Michael Lawrence joining the Board on 1st August 2023.
Toby Watts
On the 24th November 2022, we said goodbye to Neil Harper as he retired from Rigel Shipping after 35 years with the company, 19 of those years as a Director.
As a fresh 17 year old Neil started his broking life at L.Dens (Shipbrokers) Ltd. 40 years ago in April 1982 and fixed his first ship in their Coastal department 5 months later managing to conclude a 1,450 tonner from Middlesborough to Antwerp at a huge £5.10 per mt!
Some 5 years later Neil met the Rigel boss Kevin Coughlan for 'a chat' in the Magpie pub near Liverpool Street Station, and after 3 pints the deal to join Rigel was done.
Neil started in the Owners broking department representing a number of close clients before answering a call in 1999 from an ex colleague who had just started at Oldendorff in Germany who at the time were in need of experienced brokers. This led to a very close relationship which lasted for over 23 years until Neil's retirement. Neil managed to travel extensively and always enjoyed meeting new people all over the world. Neil will continue to serve as a Trustee of the Baltic Exchange Charitable Foundation who meet every 3 months and will no doubt swing by to see us from time time.
Neil has always been a keen Golf player and been a member of the Baltic Golf Society for many years. To date he has won the Baltic Gold Cup on 6 occasions.
He will be missed by his colleagues and numerous industry friends from all over the world who should be aware that now he is retired to expect a call to catch up over a lunch or dinner.
Toby Watts
On the 24th November 2022, we said goodbye to Neil Harper as he retired from Rigel Shipping after 35 years with the company, 19 of those years as a Director.
As a fresh 17 year old Neil started his broking life at L.Dens (Shipbrokers) Ltd. 40 years ago in April 1982 and fixed his first ship in their Coastal department 5 months later managing to conclude a 1,450 tonner from Middlesborough to Antwerp at a huge £5.10 per mt!
Some 5 years later Neil met the Rigel boss Kevin Coughlan for 'a chat' in the Magpie pub near Liverpool Street Station, and after 3 pints the deal to join Rigel was done.
Neil started in the Owners broking department representing a number of close clients before answering a call in 1999 from an ex colleague who had just started at Oldendorff in Germany who at the time were in need of experienced brokers. This led to a very close relationship which lasted for over 23 years until Neil's retirement. Neil managed to travel extensively and always enjoyed meeting new people all over the world. Neil will continue to serve as a Trustee of the Baltic Exchange Charitable Foundation who meet every 3 months and will no doubt swing by to see us from time time.
Neil has always been a keen Golf player and been a member of the Baltic Golf Society for many years. To date he has won the Baltic Gold Cup on 6 occasions.
He will be missed by his colleagues and numerous industry friends from all over the world who should be aware that now he is retired to expect a call to catch up over a lunch or dinner.
Neil Harper Retirement
Neil Harper Retirement
On the 15th September '22 we said farewell to Andrew Pearson as he retired from shipping after spending the last 5 years of his Shipbroking career at Rigel Shipping.
Andrew's career started 47 years ago to the day on the 15th September 1975 when he was employed by Alan Keep (MD) at Ferromar Ltd that first office being located in Gracechurch Street being no more than 200 yards from the present Rigel office. Alan's first words of advice to him were "If you think this is all going to be a bed of roses, don't come in tomorrow''
After departing from Ferromar after 9 years Andrew has worked at various other London companies before joining Rigel in 2017.
47 wonderful years which haven't always gone to plan which makes this industry so exciting and disappointing in the same hour never mind day.. His first fixture was 1500 tons of steel from Ghent to Dagenham earning the company a massive 37.00 pounds which was spent in celebration in Simpsons in Cornhill.
Although the industry has seen numerous changes over the years, Andrew has had the opportunity to travel and visit places all round the world making many friends along the way. He wishes all in Rigel and friends throughout the shipping world continued success and happy fixing.
On the 15th September '22 we said farewell to Andrew Pearson as he retired from shipping after spending the last 5 years of his Shipbroking career at Rigel Shipping.
Andrew's career started 47 years ago to the day on the 15th September 1975 when he was employed by Alan Keep (MD) at Ferromar Ltd that first office being located in Gracechurch Street being no more than 200 yards from the present Rigel office. Alan's first words of advice to him were "If you think this is all going to be a bed of roses, don't come in tomorrow''
After departing from Ferromar after 9 years Andrew has worked at various other London companies before joining Rigel in 2017.
47 wonderful years which haven't always gone to plan which makes this industry so exciting and disappointing in the same hour never mind day.. His first fixture was 1500 tons of steel from Ghent to Dagenham earning the company a massive 37.00 pounds which was spent in celebration in Simpsons in Cornhill.
Although the industry has seen numerous changes over the years, Andrew has had the opportunity to travel and visit places all round the world making many friends along the way. He wishes all in Rigel and friends throughout the shipping world continued success and happy fixing.
Andrew Pearson Retirement
Andrew Pearson Retirement
On the 24th November 2022, we said goodbye to Neil Harper as he retired from Rigel Shipping after 35 years with the company, 19 of those years as a Director.
As a fresh 17 year old Neil started his broking life at L.Dens (Shipbrokers) Ltd. 40 years ago in April 1982 and fixed his first ship in their Coastal department 5 months later managing to conclude a 1,450 tonner from Middlesborough to Antwerp at a huge £5.10 per mt!
Some 5 years later Neil met the Rigel boss Kevin Coughlan for 'a chat' in the Magpie pub near Liverpool Street Station, and after 3 pints the deal to join Rigel was done.
Neil started in the Owners broking department representing a number of close clients before answering a call in 1999 from an ex colleague who had just started at Oldendorff in Germany who at the time were in need of experienced brokers. This led to a very close relationship which lasted for over 23 years until Neil's retirement. Neil managed to travel extensively and always enjoyed meeting new people all over the world. Neil will continue to serve as a Trustee of the Baltic Exchange Charitable Foundation who meet every 3 months and will no doubt swing by to see us from time time.
Neil has always been a keen Golf player and been a member of the Baltic Golf Society for many years. To date he has won the Baltic Gold Cup on 6 occasions.
He will be missed by his colleagues and numerous industry friends from all over the world who should be aware that now he is retired to expect a call to catch up over a lunch or dinner.
On the 15th September '22 we said farewell to Andrew Pearson as he retired from shipping after spending the last 5 years of his Shipbroking career at Rigel Shipping.
Andrew's career started 47 years ago to the day on the 15th September 1975 when he was employed by Alan Keep (MD) at Ferromar Ltd that first office being located in Gracechurch Street being no more than 200 yards from the present Rigel office. Alan's first words of advice to him were "If you think this is all going to be a bed of roses, don't come in tomorrow''
After departing from Ferromar after 9 years Andrew has worked at various other London companies before joining Rigel in 2017.
47 wonderful years which haven't always gone to plan which makes this industry so exciting and disappointing in the same hour never mind day.. His first fixture was 1500 tons of steel from Ghent to Dagenham earning the company a massive 37.00 pounds which was spent in celebration in Simpsons in Cornhill.
Although the industry has seen numerous changes over the years, Andrew has had the opportunity to travel and visit places all round the world making many friends along the way. He wishes all in Rigel and friends throughout the shipping world continued success and happy fixing.
Rigel Shipping Ltd,
Floor 2 Birchin Court,
20 Birchin Lane, London,
EC3V 9DU
Phone: +44 207 538 4024
Mobile: +44 7506 174011
Email: info@rigelshipping.co.uk
© 2025 Rigel Shipping Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Rigel Shipping is a registered company in the United Kingdom, Company Registration No.1319709, VAT No.245133290. All content, designs, and materials on this website are the intellectual property of Rigel Shipping and are protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use or reproduction of any content from this website without prior written consent is prohibited. For further information, please review our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Patrick Kirkness
He started his shipping career in 2007 with a small Operator in London before being sent on a years secondment to a ship broking company in Singapore. After a brief return to London in 2008 he took the opportunity to return to Singapore in 2009 and continue his shipbroking career there. Predominately focused on the Supramax segment he initially worked the spot market before moving to focus on longer term period business in 2013. He returned home to the UK, and to London in the spring of 2019. He had of course known Rigel Shipping and their fantastic reputation throughout his career and in Summer of 2022 jumped at the opportunity to join our fantastic team here in our new offices in the city of London.
Katerina Kalaitzian
Career in shipping started late 2010 as a chartering assistant and dry cargo operator in a ship broking office in Athens, where she was handling the vessels for our exclusive shipowners. At the same time, she was working as a Marine Lubricants trainee for the same employer. Three years later, she joined Carriers Shipbrokers, also based in Athens as an operator for eight months then she relocated to London to join GFI. Almost three years later, she moved to Andros Maritime, a Greek shipowner and from there to Clarksons, where for four years she worked as a Dry cargo operator. In June 2022, she joined Rigel Shipping as an Operations manager.
Tracey Franklin
After spending the last 18 years working in the commercial property development and investment sector she felt it was time for a career change. She's now looking after day to day administration whilst looking after the Brokers needs as well.