MI-based Vestas Wind Techs Unionize
Michigan-based wind technicians who perform operations and maintenance on Vestas turbines voted to unionize and become members of the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), AFL-CIO. The election marks the first Vestas wind technicians in North American to unionize. “This is a big win for this group,” said Deirdre Brill, UWUA Organizing Director. “More and more people working in renewable energy are realizing how helpful a union can be in achieving better, safer working conditions.”The 11-member group voted 9-1 in favor of organizing. The group will become members of UWUA
Mr. Marine Names Laarhuis CEO
.With a robust background in the maritime and oil & gas sectors, Laarhuis brings a wealth of experience to Mr. Marine. After several years at sea as a marine engineer, Laarhuis transitioned to shore-based leadership roles in the TIC and classification fields, overseeing operations across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Most recently, he focused on developing new products and engaging in M&A activities within the TIC sector, successfully expanding into emerging markets.Laarhuis said, “I am excited to join Mr. Marine in its journey towards innovation and growth in the marine
LOGISTEC Appoints Liborio Fernandes Chief as Commercial Officer
and environmental services provider LOGISTEC announced it has appointed Cleidy Liborio Fernandes as chief commercial officer.Liborio Fernandes brings her leadership skills in international business and strategic development to drive growth for the company’s marine services sector throughout North America, Latin America and internationally.“As a transformational leader with in-depth supply chain knowledge and solid experience in large commercial organizations in the marine and logistics industry, Cleidy has an impressive track record for leveraging the power of diverse functional teams to accelerate
AAPA Latam Appoints Juan Duarte as Executive President
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) announced the reconstitution of its presence in Latin America with the appointment of Juan Duarte as the first Latin American to serve as Executive President of AAPA in Latin America.Duarte comes to head AAPA Latin America after his role as CEO of DUAGA, a leading consultancy in the port sector in Latin America, and his active participation in the AAPA Professional Development Board in the United States, where he has contributed to the development of the training strategy for the new generation of port directors.In addition, the trade group confirmed
Port of Los Angeles Promotes Calhoun to Deputy Executive Director
The Port of Los Angeles has appointed Erica M. Calhoun as its deputy executive director overseeing the City of Los Angeles harbor department’s administrative bureau. In this new position, Calhoun will be responsible for the planning, direction and management of several key divisions at North America’s leading trade gateway and busiest container port in the Western Hemisphere. Calhoun has served as interim deputy executive director of harbor administration since May 2024.“Erica is an incredibly talented professional and valuable member of our Harbor Department team,” said Port
SECNAV Announces Push to Rebuild Michigan's Maritime Industrial Base
in training the next generation of workers, we send a clear message to manufacturers across the nation: come to Michigan,” Governor Whitmer said. “Here, we make stuff—whether it’s ships, semiconductor chips, or potato chips. We have the grit and know-how to produce anything America needs. Our defense industry contributes $30 billion to our economy, supporting more than 166,000 jobs and nearly 4,000 businesses. We produce more military vehicles than any other state and are home to major defense companies including General Dynamics, BAE, and GM Defense. With our growing veteran
Darley Names Lee J. Wise CFO
;a Itasca, Ill. headquartered provider of technology and equipment to military and first responders, including pumps for fireboats—announced it has named Lee J. Wise as chief financial officer, effective July 22, 2024.Wise joins Darley from Covetrus, where he was a Senior Vice President of North America Distribution and Category Management at Covetrus (based in Portland, Maine). Prior to his tenure at Covetrus, Wise was a Vice President of Corporate Finance at Mauser Packaging Solutions. Wise’s previous roles include financial leadership positions within treasury and corporate development
Kevin Humphreys Named CEO of Attender
AI technology company specializing in maritime and offshore procurement—from investor and strategic advisor to the board, to its new chief executive officer.Humphreys brings to the role 35 years of marine and offshore experience, having previously served as president of Lloyd's Register North America and general manager of market innovation at Wartsila."The maritime and offshore industries are ripe for technology solutions that improve shareholder value by disrupting legacy processes," Humphreys said. "Attender is at the front edge of new AI technology, and I could not pass up
Ports America Names Fernandez VP & GM in Tampa
Marine terminal operator Ports America announced it has appointed Manny Fernandez as Vice President and General Manager of its operations in Tampa, Fla.An accomplished logistics and transportation senior executive in domestic and international multimodal transportation, supply chain management, warehousing, and ocean/air forwarding, with over 30 years of global experience, Fernandez comes to Ports America from Cargomatic, where he most recently served as the Senior Vice President of Ocean, Rail, and Port Solutions since February 2023. His prior experience also includes leading teams at CMA CGM, APL
Georgia Ports Authority Appoints New Execs
as vice president of sales and marketing in January 2023 and came to GPA from the ocean carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group that provided logistics solutions for manufacturers of cars, trucks, heavy equipment and specialized cargo. At WW, Batista served most recently as senior vice president and head of Americas sales, leading ocean and logistics commercial development and customer relations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Latin America, based in New Jersey. Prior to that position, he was executive vice president and head of commercial activities for Europe, Africa and the Middle East at Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Silicon Sensing Establishes US Office
Silicon Sensing announced plans to open its first U.S. office, with a dedicated in-country team lead by the new head of sales – Americas, Kevin Swain.David Somerville, General Manager, Silicon Sensing, said, “This is an exciting development for us and reflects the growing demand for our products in the region, a growth which is forecast to continue over the coming years as the need increases for precision motion sensing for ever-more compact platforms, whether on land, sea, air or in space.”The U.K.-based firm supplies gyros, accelerometers and inertial measurement units into diverse
Maritime Employers: Working to Find Workers
Washington’s Employment Security Department (ESD), the agency charged with implementing Career Connect Washington (CCW), which links jobseekers to training. Since 2019, CCW has funded over 150 such programs, many were apprenticeships.In 2022 the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), announced Building America apprenticeship funds. Clemons said Washington state officials moved on that opportunity, which, Clemons said, “seemed like a perfect fit for Washington’s workforce needs.” ESD’s applications were successful and new apprenticeship programs in key industries – including
MARAD’s Centers of Excellence: Addressing Maritime Workforce Needs and Preparing the Next Generation
, such a task is not easy.In an effort to assist the industry and meaningfully address this pressing and complex issue, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) created a designation program with the goal to help recruit, train and sustain the future workforce of America’s maritime industry. This program designates qualified training facilities as Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE).Marine News interviewed Dr. Shashi Kumar, MARAD Deputy Associate Administrator and National Coordinator for Maritime Education and
Embracing Human and Organizational Performance: A Paradigm Shift to Address Safety and Workforce Challenges
company. Moreover, it provides a work environment that incentivizes compliance with policy by designing operational procedures in a way that mirrors the actual way work is done, rather than an unattainable work-as-imagined standard that is often used in policy manuals.Understanding and applying HOP: The American Waterways Operators (AWO)As the tugboat, towboat, and barge industry’s advocate, resource, and united voice for safe, sustainable, and efficient transportation on America’s waterways, oceans, and coasts, AWO is invested in supporting members by actively sharing learning opportunities
Port of New Orleans CEO Brandy Christian to Step Down
more than $260 million in public and private placement bonds to fund the Capital Investment Program, including the $140 million expansion of the Napoleon Avenue container terminal. Wendel has also been a key figure in securing $800 million in commitments from future private LIT terminal operators Ports America and TIL, and he has been a mainstay in commercial negotiations across Port NOLA and NOPB’s lines of business
SECNAV Del Toro Issues 'National Call to Maritime Service'
Toro issued a National Call to Maritime Service, during the kick off of the inaugural Fleet Week Miami.“Service in the Navy and Marine Corps is more than just a job. It represents a chance to serve something bigger than yourself,” said Secretary Del Toro. “We recognize the desire of Americans from all walks of life to use their talents to better our great Nation, to be part of a legacy of courage and honor that stretches back to the very founding of our nation—and beyond.”As the 78th Secretary of the Navy, Del Toro leads a department of nearly one million Sailors, Marines
Royal Caribbean Recruiting Thousands to Meet Surging Demand
."It did not necessarily yield as many applicants that I think we all were expecting," said Alexander Gumbs, chief executive of Port St. Maarten Group, who said less than a third of that goal for 1,000 actually applied.Tens of thousands of people need to be hired from the Caribbean and Latin America as new ships are deployed across the industry, according to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, a trade organization. Tourism boards and ports said one of the major challenges is educating potential candidates about a career at sea to meet industry labor demand.(Reuters - Reporting by Doyinsola
