MBARI Names Kaya Johnson Director of Marine Operations
MBARI recently welcomed Kaya Johnson as its new director of marine operations, tasked with overseeing the institute’s seagoing assets, including three research vessels, a deep-sea cabled observatory and fleet of advanced underwater robots.Johnson comes to MBARI from Oregon State University (OSU), where he worked for the past six years. Johnson was port captain at OSU, then served as marine superintendent of ship operations. He managed operations for OSU’s fleet of three research vessels—Elakha, Oceanus (retired in November 2021) and Pacific Storm.Prior to his tenure at OSU, Johnson
Gunderson Marine to Open Trades Skills Training Center
careers. I urge anyone with an interest in welding or shipbuilding to apply for the program."Gunderson Marine is known for building large articulated tug barges and has also built deck barges, dump scows, oil spill recovery vessels, crane barges and hopper barges. The company was acquired by Oregon Green Manufacturing in May 2023
Foss Maritime Names Mack COO
Seattle-based Foss Maritime announced it has promoted Chris Mack Jr. to Chief Operating Officer (COO), responsible for all of the company's harbor services activitiesMack will oversee Marine Assurance, HR and labor, Fleet Engineering and Foss’ regional management teams in Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii.Mack joined Foss Maritime as an Able-Seaman in the Ocean Fleet after graduating from California Maritime Academy in 2005. He held several deck positions before moving to shoreside in 2011. He has held several shoreside positions over the last 11 years including Port Captain
Beth Rooney Named Director of Port of New York and New Jersey
success of the port, the largest economic driver in the region.”Ruda is departing the agency to return to his home on the West Coast. He joined the Port Authority in 2015 after a 29-year career in transportation, including 12 years as a key member of the Port of Portland management team in Oregon. He was appointed to head the Port of New York and New Jersey in April 2019, five months after being named Interim Director.Rooney joined the Port Authority in 1993 and has held a series of progressively higher-level management positions in the Port Department since then. She was appointed Deputy
Pruzek Named Executive VP at RECONCRAFT
vice president, effective January 1.Pruzek brings to the role two decades of leadership and operations in the specialized marine manufacturing industry. He most recently served as the vice president of sales and business development at Vigor for two years and as vice president of marine products at Oregon Iron Works for 17 years, both in the Portland, Ore. area. He led the successful capture and execution of multiple high-profile programs including SOCOM’s Combatant Craft Heavy (CC-H), Combatant Craft Medium (CC-M) and numerous other craft.“Josh is highly respected in the industry and
Tekorius to Succeed Furman as Greenbrier CEO
, multinational industrial company. At the age of 25, he became the first general manager of the FMC Finance division, a captive sales finance arm for FMC which he founded. Subsequently, Furman joined Trans Pacific Financial Corporation, a publicly traded financial services company located in Portland, Oregon. Until 1974, he was Corporate Vice President of Trans Pacific's Leasing Group, responsible for all phases of its operations. In late 1974, Furman and Alan James acquired the Trans Pacific National division, a capital lease asset underwriter and entered the rail car and commercial jet aircraft
BOEM Taps Doug Boren to Lead Pacific Office
Energy Management (BOEM) announced Doug Boren has been appointed as the new regional director for the agency’s Pacific Office in Camarillo, Calif. Boren will be responsible for managing the development of energy and mineral resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.“Doug has many years of service with BOEM, working on aspects of OCS energy and minerals programs at the regional, national and international levels,” said BOEM Director Amanda Lefton. “His collaborative management style, public engagement experience and proven
Richard W. Spinrad Confirmed to Lead NOAA
also held professorships in academia and industry executive positions focusing on the ocean and environment.Spinrad, 67, a native of New York City, earned a bachelor’s degree in earth and planetary sciences from the Johns Hopkins University, and earned a masters and a doctorate in oceanography from Oregon State University
Lemanowicz Joins Poseidon Barge, Piedmont Relocates
being a project superintendent and project manager for various marine jobs.Piedmont, a technical expert, has worked for Poseidon Barge for more than 14 years, having managed the Northeast territory since 2009. As West Coast territory sales manager based in Arizona, his new territory includes Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Hawaii, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Mexico. Poseidon Barge said it will soon open an equipment storage yard in the Western region
Crowley Awards Scholarships to Four Maine Maritime Cadets
scholarship recipients are:Megan Doucette, a senior from Bangor, Maine, is majoring in marine transport operations. She sailed during a sea term aboard the Crowley tanker Louisiana.Nickolas Lewis, a junior from Penobscot, Maine, studies marine transportation operations. Lewis served on the Crowley tanker Oregon during his sea term.Griffin Kretzmer of Glastonbury, Conn., is a senior majoring in marine engineering operations. Kretzmer also served his sea term aboard the Oregon.James Trentham, a senior from Middletown, Del., is majoring in marine systems engineering. He sailed aboard the Crowley-managed tanker
Port of Portland Aims to Add Jobs
Oregon's Port of Portland has set out to develop a thriving jobs center.The Port of Portland Commission unanimously approved a Master Development Agreement (MDA) with Specht Development Inc. and Colas Development Group (CDG) to manage land in Gresham for marketing and development services. As part of this MDA, the port is implementing a new framework focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) by leveraging its real estate assets to create a more equitable and prosperous region.This DEI framework will be implemented at the Gresham Vista Business Park, a 221-acre property that the port purchased
Vigor, MHI Acquired and Merged
a dramatic U.S. shipbuilding and repair move it was announced today that The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and private equity firm Stellex Capital Management signed a definitive agreement to acquire and merge Vigor Industrial LLC, an infrastructure, defense, and maritime services company based in Portland, Oregon, and MHI Holdings LLC, a ship repair, maintenance, and other ship husbandry services company based in Norfolk, Virginia.The transaction, subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close by the end of the third quarter 2019.Financial terms were not disclosed.“Through this transaction
Consolidated Ship Repair Hires Sappington
of a diverse range of projects from ship repair and fabrication, to decommissioning and systems integration testing, to subsea and offshore construction at one of the largest waterfront shipyards in Texas.Sappington’s experience in the industry began at a young age, working on a boat off the Oregon coast with his fisherman father. A 28-year marine industry professional, he has worked at industry leading marine equipment OEM's and offshore drilling operators, holding a variety of positions including Field Service Engineer, Service Manager and Mechanical Superintendent. He is a subject matter
Warren Named OBMP Executive Director
The Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots (OBMP) has appointed Marc Warren as its new Executive Director. Warren will work in partnership with the OBMP board members, state-licensed maritime pilots, shipping industry representatives and contractors, as well as with environmental, state and federal regulatory agencies and Oregon residents in an effort to implement the objectives and goals of OBMP. Warren previously served as a regulatory specialist for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and possesses 25 years of maritime leadership experience with the U.S. Coast Guard, serving as a
Rob Nakama: From USCG to Foss Maritime
Managers. “I’m currently responsible for (Foss Maritime’s) overall compliance with Federal, state and international oil spill response, prevention and contingency-plan requirements for all company and subsidiary vessels, two shipyard, and our fueling facility in Portland, Oregon,” he said. Nakama’s other responsibilities include maintaining the response readiness of Foss employees through the conduct of drills and exercises, which often include participation from the U.S. Coast Guard and state oil spill prevention regulatory agencies. &ldquo
O’Hollaren Named Port of Portland Marine Marketing Director
gateway and set a new vision for business activity at Terminal 6,” said Keith Leavitt, the Port’s chief commercial officer. “Ken is a highly regarded leader in the Pacific Northwest marine port sector.” Port of Portland is the largest deep water port in the state of Oregon with four marine terminals. Portland is currently the U.S. West Coast leader for auto exports, moving over 50,000 vehicles through port docks in 2016. The port also handled over 10 million tons of cargo in 2016, including grain, potash, soda ash, bulk and breakbulk products
Leonard Returns to Port of Portland
Kristen Leonard will return to the Port of Portland (Oregon) on February 27, 2017 as chief public affairs officer, after leaving the port in November 2015 to serve as Governor Kate Brown’s chief of staff. During Leonard’s absence, Bobbi Stedman, the port’s chief human resources officer, also served as chief public affairs officer. Leonard joined the port to lead public affairs in July 2014. Previously, she advised clients on communications and public affairs. Leonard was the co-founder of C&E Systems, a Portland-based company specializing in government relations
