Kruger Named President of Austal USA
The Austal USA Board of Directors has elected Michelle Kruger as Austal USA President. She has been serving as interim president since August 2023.Kruger joined Austal USA in 2022 as the vice president of global services and support. In that role she led Austal USA’s ship repair and warranty efforts including the development of business strategy and strategic alliances. She also oversaw the stand up of Austal USA’s San Diego repair yard including the delivery of a purpose-built 9000-tonne capacity dry dock. Kruger is a marine engineer with more than 25 years of maritime industry
Simulators Track our Changing Relationship with Technology
Simulation-based training has its whole-of-ship/whole-of-team scenarios, but zooming in, the industry is now working on more specific targets.We have a close relationship with technology, evidenced by, for example, the phones we are estimated to unlock around 50-80 times a day. It has changed us. Half the people surveyed in a 2022 King’s College London study said that they feel like their attention span is shorter than it used to be. They are wrong, though, if they think that the average attention span of adults today is just eight seconds, one second less than goldfish. The science behind these
Prysmian Appoints New CEO
Italian cable maker and installation services provider Prysmian has named Massimo Battaini as its new chief executive officer and general manager.The new CEO appointment also marks the entering into force of the new organizational structure, aimed at supporting the company’s strategic plan and value creation, Prysmian said.The new organization, as already announced in December, is composed of four business units — Transmission, Power Grid, Electrification and Digital Solutions — and is aimed at ensuring utmost coverage of the key market trends related to the energy transition and the
MRS '24 - Panel 5: Identifying Risk, Measuring Success in the "Gray Zone"
, and solution providers convene to examine current and emerging threats to maritime security. MRS2024 is scheduled to take place June 11-13 2024 at Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, CA.A look @ Panel 5: Facilitator: Eric “Coop” Cooper, CAPT, USCG (retired)This panel will inform participants and generate discussion to improve understanding of the risk of gray zone activities pose to the economy, international relationships, security, and global balance of power. A gray zone is “an operational space between peace and war, involving coercive actions to change the
Americraft Marine Appoints Peter Fetten as Chairman
in Palatka, Fla., has announced the appointment of Peter Fetten as Chairman of Americraft.A seasoned leader with four decades in the marine engineering and shipbuilding sectors, Fetten will help shape the strategic direction of Americraft Marine as it works to advance U.S. shipbuilding and the demand for Jones Act vessels. Americraft Marine's St. Johns Ship Building, performs both new construction and repair of a wide variety of steel and aluminum vessels, including ferries, tugs, deck and tank barges, landing crafts and general cargo vessels. A main focus for the shipyard has been crew transfer
NextGeo Taps Frank Koopman as Offshore Wind Strategy Director
growth objectives. This important cooperation propels us towards ambitious goals, confirming our positioning among the major players in the sector. I wish Frank to continue with enthusiasm in his work, in the firm belief that his contribution will offer our entire team new motivations and opportunities for organizational improvement and innovation”.Frank Koopman, Offshore Wind Strategy Director of NextGeo, said, “NextGeo combine an agile entrepreneurial spirit with solid industry experience, and I am looking forward to continuing to support them to expand their activities in renewable energy
Recruiter to Cooperate in Deal with Workers Suing Major US Shipbuilders
A maritime industry recruiter has agreed to work with plaintiffs and share worker compensation data in a lawsuit accusing major U.S. shipbuilders of limiting employee mobility, marking the first settlement in the case.Attorneys for a proposed class of engineers and architects suing General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls Industries and other companies disclosed the settlement with Faststream Recruitment on Tuesday in Alexandria, Virginia federal court.The October lawsuit said the shipbuilders violated U.S. antitrust law by scheming to restrict hiring from each other in a conspiracy that suppressed worker
Bristol Harbor Group Hires Kyle Pagan
frim Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI) announced it has hired Kyle Pagan as a naval architect.Pagan holds a Master’s degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University. For his graduate research, he conducted an in-depth study of the performance of 3D printing materials under the influence of water exposure, investigating their potential effects on ship models utilized in towing tank testing.Prior to working at BHGI, Pagan worked as a naval architect at Birdon US in
US FMC Names Usman Chief Information Officer
Mohammad “Ali” Usman has been hired as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Federal Maritime Commission and appointed to be a member of the Senior Executive Service.Usman will serve as director in all areas of information technology (IT) and as the primary IT technical advisor to the Managing Director.He assumes his new duties effective immediately.“Well functioning, publicly accessible, and secured information systems are vital to being able to meet the mission of a government agency in the 21st Century. Mr. Usman possesses skills and experience that permit him to be pivotal
AME Hires Paul Savage as Operations Manager
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. based maritime and industrial mechanical service repair specialist Advanced Mechanical Enterprises (AME) announced it has appointed Paul Savage as its new Operations Manager.With over 30 years of leadership and project management experience, Savage joins the AME management team from Veolia North America, where he served as Vice President, managing complex industrial and government contracts. At Veolia, Savage was at the helm of commercial, state, and federal contracts, overseeing safe and efficient utility plant operations where he successfully negotiated contract renewals and
Texas A&M to Reduce Tuition For Merchant Mariner License Students
Texas A&M University at Galveston said it will reduce fees for current and future out-of-state students seeking a merchant mariner license from the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, in an effort that aims to help the maritime industry fill worsening labor gaps.Texas A&M Maritime Academy students earn their U.S. Coast Guard license while completing one of several license-option four-year bachelor’s degree programs at Texas A&M at Galveston.Effective September 1, under a new three-tiered fee structure approved by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, students from Louisiana
Steve Nevey Tapped to Lead Washington State Ferries
Steve Nevey has been selected to serve as assistant secretary for the Washington State Ferries Division, the state's Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar announced on Thursday. Nevey will succeed Patty Rubstello, who is stepping down as head of WSF after more than 33 years of service with the Washington State Department of Transportation.A career mariner, Nevey progressed directly from high school to a maritime academy in the U.K. For the past two years he has served as director of marine operations for WSF and has been instrumental in the development of programs that address ongoing staff
Orsted Appoints CFO, Head of Operations
operations (COO), with effect from April 1.Harnett has led development and construction of Hornsea 3, which will become the world's single largest offshore wind farm when completed.In November, Orsted said its finance and operations chiefs were stepping down with immediate effect after the company was forced to scrap two U.S. offshore wind projects, flagging $5.6 billion in impairments after delays sent costs soaring.In February, Orsted trimmed its investment and capacity targets and paused dividend payouts as part of a major review.Tuesday's appointments will help ensure the successful implementation
GAO: Coast Guard Should Address Workforce Recruitment and Retention Challenges
The Coast Guard has struggled for years to recruit and retain a sufficient workforce. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the non-partisan, fact-based arm of the Congress, has published multiple reports related to the Coast Guard’s workforce including recruitment and retention challenges. Three of these reports published in 2022 and 2023 have resulted in 17 GAO recommendations to address these issues, but as of today, 16 remain open and need to be addressed. Implementing these recommendations is key to the Coast Guard’s ability to recruit and retain the personnel necessary
Balmoral Comtec Names Lowdon Nonexecutive Director
offshore energy supply chain, announced it has appointed Dr. Alan Lowdon OBE as nonexecutive director, in move aiming to strategic Balmoral's offshore wind ambition.Lowdon brings over 35 years of experience from various directorial roles in the renewable energy sector, where he has been responsible for strategic, service and product development. Notably, Lowdon was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for 'Services to UK-US Offshore Wind Collaboration' in January 2022's Queen's New Year's Honor List. Bill Main, managing director at Balmoral Comtec, said, &ldquo
US Coast Guard Announces New Merchant Mariner Credential
The U.S. Coast Guard announced a new merchant mariner credential (MMC) set to launch on March 1, 2024, marking the first comprehensive revision of the mariner credential in nearly a decade.The Coast Guard is the exclusive source of U.S. MMCs, which are required for U.S. mariners who serve on commercially operated vessels such as passenger boats, tug and barges, offshore supply vessels, and deep draft ocean going cargo vessels throughout the nation and internationally.The Coast Guard said it is replacing the legacy MMC passport-style booklet (“Red Book”) with a new certificate size one page
UK Chamber of Shipping names Hatcher Chief Executive
the Royal Navy. He brings with him a broad wealth of experience. His last role was as the UK National Hydrographer and Deputy Chief Executive at the UK Hydrographic Office. He gained a thorough understanding of Whitehall while in senior appointments at the Ministry of Defense, where he was responsible for global strategy, operations and defense engagement.Hatcher will join the Chamber on 18 March, and following a short handover period, Treseder will leave the Chamber at the end of the 2023-2024 financial year.Hatcher said, "I am honored and excited to be appointed as the next Chief Executive of
