Background
Vlasov, Boris was born on March 14, 1913 in Odessa. Son of a shipping and coal millionaire.
Businessman Shipping industrialist
Vlasov, Boris was born on March 14, 1913 in Odessa. Son of a shipping and coal millionaire.
After the October Revolution 1917, moved with his parents to Poland. Received an engineering degree from the Vienna Technische Hochschule. Worked for his father and took over the Vlasov Group after his death in 1961.
Acquired the ex-troopship Oxfordshire to ship Australian government-assisted immigrants from Britain and Europe. Diversified into cruising through his firm Sitmar Cruises, using the ex-Cunard liners Carinthia and Sylvania (re-named Fairsea and Fairwind), operating out of Miami. Built up a tanker fleet.
In the 1970s, ordered 5 oil tankers from Cammell Laird. In 1974, in conjunction with the Italian investment group Capitalfin, took over the British company Shipping and Industrial Holdings. Later took over control of Silver Line.
Owned by that time 2,500,000 tons of bulk and general cargo ships, together with 4 cruise liners. Continued to prosper in shipping operations. During the 1970s, he was one of the largest owners of British flag tonnage.
The Times in its obituary called him a 'figure of major stature in the troubled shipping industry’. Hated photographers and any kind of publicity. In his later years, became a virtual recluse.
His last post was as head of the Nassau-based V Group of shipping companies. Described as a multilingual gentleman with a true European culture and an ame slave enigmatic to non-Slavs.