Sorenson Joins St. Johns Ship Building in VP Role
management and customer relations. Most recently, Sorenson served as director of sales at Willard Marine, Inc. Before his role at Willard Marine, Sorenson held key leadership positions at Lake Assault Boats and Silver Ships, Inc. His background also includes nearly a decade of service with the U.S. Coast Guard.“We are thrilled to welcome Jim to the St. Johns Ship Building team,” Rella said. “His leadership and experience in government sales will play a key role in expanding our presence in this critical market, and we are confident that he will help drive continued growth and success
Tamekia Flack Joins World Shipping Council as Director of US Government Relations
from her career in maritime transportation law and policy, having most recently served as the Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) following a period as MARAD’s Chief Counsel. Prior to MARAD, Flack was a civilian attorney for the U.S. Coast Guard. Flack is a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps. She holds a Juris Doctorate from Tulane University School of Law and a degree from Dillard University.“We are thrilled to welcome Tamekia to the World Shipping Council,” said Joe Kramek,
US Investigation Leads Maersk to Change Reporting Policy for Employees
by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which found the company violated the employee’s rights under the federal Seaman’s Protection Act by retaliating against the seaman.OSHA found the company policy, which forbid employees from contacting the US Coast Guard or other federal, state or local regulatory agencies without first notifying the company, violated federal law. Workers have the right to report safety concerns directly to authorities without fear of retaliation.The investigation began after the seaman alerted the U.S. Coast Guard about safety
Mark Handin Named President at Patriot Maritime
under Patriot Contract Services. LLC., and its American Ship Management, LLC subsidiary. He will reside in Houston, Texas and oversee the company’s growing operational office in the Houston area.Bardo retires after 13 years with the company, preceded by almost 30 years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard. He will remain with the company through the end of June 2024 and will continue serving the company in a part-time consultancy thereafter.Lance Bardo (Photo: Patriot Maritime)Patriot Maritime Principal and CEO, Ryan Pereyda, said, “We are delighted to welcome Mark Handin to the Patriot
Blank Rome Welcomes Maritime Partner Luke Reid
Luke M. Reid has joined Blank Rome as a partner in the firm’s Maritime group and as a member of the Transportation industry team in the Boston office. A former U.S. Coast Guard officer, Reid advises clients in connection with all aspects of international and domestic maritime regulatory compliance, as well as representing maritime clients in connection with government investigations, criminal and civil litigation, defense of maritime regulatory enforcement actions, environmental enforcement defense, and international law. He joins Blank Rome from K&L Gates.Blank Rome established its Boston
Help Wanted: US Maritime Industry Struggles to Fill Key Gaps
some point, but we’re concerned with how we would sustain those ships at sea, and provide for some kind of relief for our people.”So how can the problem—the shortage of qualified U.S. mariners—be solved? That’s exactly what lawmakers and agencies such as MARAD and the U.S. Coast Guard, among many others—including commercial maritime industry partners—are trying to figure out.MARAD has been working to find new ways to bolster the nation’s maritime workforce, leading a number of initiatives to support mariner training and education. These include providing
No Shortage of Good Ideas to Address the Mariner Shortage
The U.S. mariner shortage continues to be a strategic national security concern for all maritime industry stakeholders. So what can the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) do to address the problem?Subcommittees on Readiness, and Seapower and Projection Forces on the “Posture and Readiness of the Mobility Enterprise.” Both Administrator Phillips and Gen. Van Ovost focused on the mariner shortage as a key readiness concern. Gen Van Ovost stated, “The U.S. maritime industry is confronting manpower shortages that create a national security risk. Merchant Mariner
MRS '24 - Panel 5: Identifying Risk, Measuring Success in the "Gray Zone"
.” iiThis panel will investigate how to identify and categorize gray zone activities and what types of responses are appropriate and necessary using the elements of national power and international bodies. The Department of Defense isn’t the only player in this arena. The United States Coast Guard offers that they will “provide a full spectrum of engagement in the grey zone as nation-states and transnational criminal organizations generate increased uncertainty and complexity in the maritime domain.” iiiPanelists from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, academia, and think
Texas A&M to Reduce Tuition For Merchant Mariner License Students
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, Mississippi
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
Wiltshire Named Acting Director of Port Everglades
that Monica and the Board of County Commissioners have placed in me to step in as Acting Director, and I look forward to keeping the port on the progressive path set by Jonathan," Wiltshire said.Wiltshire joined Port Everglades in 2006 as the Deputy Port Director after his retirement from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) as Captain of the Port for New York/New Jersey. He has successfully implemented several innovative programs to support increasing cargo, cruise and energy volumes, and has worked closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other state and federal agencies to move the port forward
Bristol Harbor Group Promotes Eling
holds a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Rhode Island. Eling worked for 15 years as a naval architect in Washington, D.C. on numerous U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, commercial and international naval projects.At BHGI, Eling is a project manager for new construction and major conversion work on commercial and government passenger and work vessels. Some of his engineering specialties include stability, weights, distributed systems and design integration
Structural Safeguards in Coast Guard Suspension and Revocation Proceedings
This article examines 10 structural safeguards in Coast Guard Suspension and Revocation (S&R) Proceedings that ensure Coast Guard Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) decisional independence. These safeguards separate potential agency influences from the ALJ decision making process and are critical to mariner due process and fundamental fairness. We will start with an overview of Coast Guard S&R proceedings, followed by brief discussions of the Administrative Procedure Act, Administrative Law Judges, and U.S. Office of Personnel Management oversight. We will then examine the ten
USCG Eases Firefighting Training Requirements for Towboats
The U.S. Coast Guard has moved to ease firefighting training requirements for towing vessels operating on America's inland waterways.The agency this week issued a final rule revising the training requirements for national Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements as master of towing vessels (limited) or mate (pilot) of towing vessels on inland and western rivers routes, excluding the Great Lakes.Consistent with recommendations from the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (NMERPAC) and the National Towing Safety Advisory Committee (NTSAC), this rule gives mariners seeking these
Johnson Joins Birdon as Ship Design Director
Spencer Johnson has joined Birdon as the ship design director building on his extensive career in shipbuilding, naval architecture and engineering. Johnson will lead Birdon’s engineering and integrated product teams to deliver 27 vessels to the U.S. Coast Guard for the Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) Program.“Spencer’s background leading large ship design and construction projects make him a great fit for Birdon’s team,” said Birdon president, Rob Scott. “Spencer’s extensive leadership and engineering experience will help Birdon grow its ship design team of
Birdon Adds Two to its US Board
Birdon, a defense contractor specializing in maritime solutions, announced it has expanded its U.S. Board of Outside Directors through the recent election of two members with extensive backgrounds with U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard shipbuilding and ship repair. Kevin Mooney and Ronald Rábago, (Rear Admiral, USCG-Ret.) have agreed to serve as Chairperson and Member, respectively.“Kevin and Ron will provide invaluable insight and guidance to our management team as Birdon continues to grow and deliver major programs to its customers,” said Birdon CEO and owner, Jamie Bruce.
To Fight Sexual Assault and Harassment, Vessel Owners and Operators Must Comply with Heightened Reporting Requirements
account by a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy cadet of sexual assault aboard a U.S.-flagged ship during her Sea Year training — Congress enacted into law the Safer Seas Act (SSA) in December 2022.Intended as a direct effort to prevent and punish SASH, the SSA, among other provisions:Requires the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to revoke the license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s credential of an individual who has been the subject of an “official finding” of sexual assault within the previous 10 years and to revoke or suspend any such credential of any individual who has
