Frederik Johan Jonkman was born in Amsterdam on January 31, 1927. Knighted by Queen Beatrix for his lifetime of service to the marine industry, Jonkman designed the dry transport system employing submersible barges. During his career with Wijsmuller Ocean Towage and Salvage Company, he rose to Managing Director. As owner and President, he founded I.T.C. Holland Heavy Lift in 1973. Under Jonkman’s leadership, the world’s first dry transport of a totally constructed jackup rig on a submersible barge was engineered and towed by an ocean tug from Ravenna to Dar es Salaam in 1973. This revolutionary accomplishment proved to the industry that very large drilling rigs could be transported in a safe and quick manner.
Industry Pioneers
