One of the most controversial names in Chinese shipping has quietly ended his official retirement and re-emerged at the head of a new venture in southern California.

Captain Wei Jiafu, former chairman of the Cosco Group and head of its many stock-listed subsidiaries, has been quietly appointed as chief executive and director of Pasadena-based Apollo Acquisition Corp.

Nothing has been disclosed about Apollo’s specific target, as is typical with special-purpose acquisition company (Spac) disclosures.