Ronald Wiggo Bjelland was born on February 8, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York. His early professional experience combined maritime operations with legal training: after graduating from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, he sailed as a marine engineer and worked for United States Lines and Gulf Oil Corporation before earning his law degree.
Bjelland graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point with a Bachelor of Science in 1966. He later attended Fordham University School of Law, where he earned a Juris Doctor in 1976. His education connected marine engineering and commercial shipping with the legal specialization that shaped his subsequent career in admiralty and corporate marine law.
Bjelland began his working life in the maritime sector, sailing as a marine engineer after graduating from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and working with United States Lines and Gulf Oil Corporation. Before completing his legal education, he was also associated with the development of container-lining technology for bulk cargo and was named as a co-inventor on United States patents concerning container liner systems. After receiving his Juris Doctor from Fordham University in 1976, Bjelland was an associate at the New York admiralty law firm Haight, Gardner, Poor & Havens. His work there involved maritime litigation, including collision matters such as the Seawitch and Esso Brussels cases, as well as fire and personal-injury disputes. He subsequently spent approximately 22 years with Mobil Oil Corporation in a series of international and marine-law assignments, including work with Mobil Exploration Norway, Mobil North Sea Limited, Mobil Producing Netherlands, Mobil Oil Indonesia, and Mobil Europe Ltd., where he served as Vice President and General Counsel. As Senior Marine Counsel for Mobil Business Resources Corporation, he acted as lead project lawyer on five major shipping joint ventures; four involved complex financing structures for six very large crude carriers and two Aframax-class vessels. In 2000, Bjelland became General Counsel of Hvide Marine Incorporated, with responsibility for the legal affairs of the company, its subsidiaries, and affiliates. He had previously served as lead counsel for Mobil Oil Corporation's international and domestic marine operations. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1977 and to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Co-inventor of the patented container-lining system described in United States Patent 4,054,226, Lining of containers for bulk cargo, assigned to United States Lines, Inc.
Co-inventor of United States Patent 4,124,136, Container liner frame support kit, a related system for supporting flexible liners used in bulk-cargo containers.
Served as lead project lawyer on five major shipping joint ventures for Mobil Business Resources Corporation, including four ventures involving complex financing structures for six very large crude carriers and two Aframax-class vessels.
(United States Patent 4,054,226, co-invented by Ronald W. ...)
1977(United States Patent 4,124,136, co-invented by Ronald W. ...)
1978Bjelland was a member of the American Bar Association during his legal career.
Quotes from others about the person
Hvide Marine chief executive Gerhard E. Kurz described Bjelland as an experienced maritime lawyer who had worked with him for many years at Mobil and who would protect and manage Hvide Marine's corporate legal interests.
