New Leadership at Mustang Survival and Wing Group
Kenny Ballard has been appointed Mustang Survival’s new President, taking over responsibilities from Juanita Killen, who stepped into the role of Interim President in 2023. Additionally, Lance Richardson takes on the newly created role of VP, Manufacturing and Innovation for the Wing Group, Mustang Survival’s parent company.Ballard brings a wealth of experience from previous executive roles with renowned brands, including Osprey, SwissGear, Wenger Outdoor, Kelty, and, most recently, his own successful consulting firm.
Argentina’s Grain Exports Could Jump 40%
“Argentina is on track to boost grain exports by 40% in 2024, recovering from last year’s drought which afflicted crops, but still below the 2019-2022 average. Climate patterns and government policy are shaping the outlook,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.El Niño has brought improved weather conditions for Argentina’s grain crops. The wheat harvest is nearly complete and estimated to be 20% larger than a year ago. Meanwhile, the favorable conditions continue to support the growing maize and soybean crops.
Bosch Rexroth Appoints North and Central America CEO
Bosch Rexroth has appointed Erwin Wieckowski, P.Eng. as the new President and CEO of Bosch Rexroth North and Central America based in Charlotte, NC, effective October 1, 2023.The role has been performed on an interim basis by Reinhard Schaefer in addition to his role as a member of the Divisional Board of Management with responsibility for Manufacturing. Schaefer will remain in the region to support the transition.“We are thrilled to have Erwin join our organization,” said Schaefer.
Nigeria Will Destroy a Vessel it Intercepted Carrying Stolen Crude
Nigeria's state-owned oil firm NNPC Ltd said on Monday an 800,000-liter (211,338-U.S. gallon) vessel carrying stolen crude had been intercepted offshore while heading to Cameroon and would be destroyed as a deterrent to oil theft.Crude theft from pipelines and wells in the Niger Delta has hobbled the country's output in recent years and is one of the biggest challenges to confront new President Bola Tinubu.NNPC said the oil was stolen from a well in south western Ondo state.
CIMAC World Congress Elects New President, Board
At the 30th CIMAC World Congress, the new president and the new board have been elected. New President is Rick Boom. He follows to Prof. Jin, Donghan who, as past president, remains member of the Board. In a brief inaugural statement, the new president-elect Rick Boom thanked his predecessor Donghan Jin for leading the organization through the difficult period of the pandemic and congratulated him on his successful leadership. Climate change and the associated challenges posed enormous challenges for the large engine industry, which must be met, Rick Boom said.
Petraki Appointed President of WISTA International
WISTA International (Women's International Shipping and Trading Association) elected their new President, Elpi Petraki, from WISTA Hellas, at its Annual General Meeting on October 26, in Geneva, Switzerland. WISTA International consists of 56 National WISTA Association (NWA) and each one is represented by the President or a delegate at AGM and casts their vote for their country's choice for the President.Petraki, Operations, Chartering & Business Development Manager at ENEA Management, said "I am truly honoured to have been elected as President of WISTA International.
Edvardsen Haugan takes the Helm at Kongsberg Maritime
Lisa Edvardsen Haugan was appointed as the new President of Kongsberg Maritime, the largest business area of Kongsberg, replacing Egil Haugsdal starting in November 2022.Edvardsen Haugan has long and extensive experience from both the defense and civil business area in Kongsberg Gruppen ASA (KONGSBERG), including having been EVP Finance at Kongsberg Maritime and Finance Director at Kongsberg Protech Systems. She currently heads the Deck Machinery & Motion Control division of Kongsberg Maritime.“Following a thorough process to recruit a new leader for Kongsberg Maritime…
D’Aoust Named President of American Queen Voyages
River cruise operator American Queen Voyages announced on Wednesday that it has named Cynthia “Cindy” D’Aoust as its next president, effective October 3, 2022.An industry veteran, D’Aoust joins AQV with nearly 40 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry including previously serving as the President of Hospitality for Cape Resorts Management Company and Global President & CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).“Hornblower Group is committed to the expansion of American Queen Voyages…
Allseas Founder Edward Heerema Hands Over The Reins to Son Pieter
Edward Heerema, founder and president of the offshore installation services firm Allseas, has decided to step aside after nearly forty years at the helm. His eldest son Pieter will assume the role of president of the Allseas Group. According to Allseas, Edward Heerema will remain as chairman and concentrate on developing and integrating new technological developments. Edward Heerema launched Allseas in 1985 and has since built the company into a global offshore contractor.In a press statement announcing the change at the helm…
Kristoffersen Takes the Helm at Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Norwegian/Swedish RoRo shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen's new president and CEO, Lasse Kristoffersen, took up his new position June 1.Named to the role in November, Kristoffersen joins Wallenius Wilhelmsen ASA from Torvald Klaveness, where he has worked for the past 15 years, serving as president and CEO since 2011. “I have been looking forward to this day for a while now. I have spent the last few weeks building my knowledge about the company and will now focus on getting to know our clients and our people.
Höegh LNG Names New President & CEO
Oslo-listed LNG FSRU specialist Höegh LNG has appointed Erik Nyheim as the new President & CEO, effective from mid-August this year.Nyheim comes from the position as Partner of Boston Consulting Group's Norwegian office where he has successfully led their maritime practice since 2019. Prior to this, he worked for more than 15 years with the Wilhelmsen group. Nyheim holds a BSc Economics and Business Administration from the Norwegian School of Business and Administration (NHH) in Bergen.Chairman of the Board, Morten W.
Ingram CEO O’Loughlin to Retire; Roberts to Take the Helm
Nashville-based Ingram Marine Group, one of the largest barging companies in the U.S., announced Monday that David O’Loughlin will retire from his role as CEO. He will be succeeded by John Roberts, the company’s current chief operating officer, who will take the helm as the new president and CEO on February 1. O’Loughlin will stay with the company as vice chair for the remainder of 2022 to assist with the transition. “Dave has been invaluable to our company and our people,” said Ingram Barge Company chairman Orrin H. Ingram II.
TOTE Group Announces Leadership Changes
The TOTE Group announced it is expanding its leadership team. Mike Noone, President of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, LLC is being promoted to a new role as the company’s chief operating officer for TOTE Group. Kevin D. Kendrick will be named the new president of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico and Alex Hofeling will be named president of TOTE Maritime Alaska, LLC.“The TOTE organization welcomes Mike to this newly created role, where he will help drive the future of our companies,” said TOTE Group President & CEO Tim Nolan.
Ian-Conrad Bergan Rebrands as Bergan Marine Systems
Ian-Conrad Bergan, LLC.—a marine equipment manufacturer for over 45 years—announced the company’s rebrand, new leadership and new direction. Rebranding as Bergan Marine Systems under new president and CEO, Kyle Durden, the company will expand its focus to include electronic and computer controls, as well as cloud-based solutions for marine data systems, along with continuing their traditional products.“While we’ve been a mostly product-centered company throughout our history, we’re now integrating our products with computer-based control systems and generating data that’s transmitted to the cloud, to customers in real-time,” Durden said.Initially founded in Norway, the company moved to the Pensacola, Fla.
Changing of the Guard
The Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association’s retiring executive director reflects on key progress made and vital work remaining.As my tenure as President, Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association (GICA) ends after 11 years, it is gratifying look at the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) and reflect on its compelling relevance to our nation. Often referred to as the “Silent Giant,” as I wrote in this publication in 2014, the Giant indeed awoke and emerged as a vital waterway which delivers…
Iran Denies Role in Tanker Attack, Says Seeks Gulf Security
Iran on Saturday rejected as psychological warfare accusations that it was behind a deadly attack on a tanker off Oman's coast, and said Tehran sought to enhance the security of the strategic Gulf waterway.Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy economies said on Friday Iran was threatening international peace and security and that all available evidence showed it was behind the attack on the Mercer Street tanker last week."If we were to confront enemies...we would declare it openly, so the recent storytelling by the enemies is a psychological operation," state media quoted Abolfazl Shekarchi, Iran's senior armed forces spokesman…
Webb Searches for New President as Keith Michel Plans Retirement
After nine years president of Webb Institute, R. Keith Michel announced plans to retire effective June 30, 2022, and the search is on for his successor at this top-ranked undergraduate institution specializing in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Founded in 1889 by New York-based shipbuilder William H. Webb, Webb Institute is the only full-tuition scholarship, private undergraduate program of its kind in the United States, with a maximum of 28 students being accepted…
Biden Announces Return to Global Climate Accord, New Curbs on US Oil Industry
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced America's return to the international Paris Agreement to fight climate change, the centerpiece of a raft of day-one executive orders aimed at restoring U.S. leadership in combating global warming.The announcements also included a sweeping order to review all of former President Donald Trump's actions weakening climate change protections, the revocation of a vital permit for TC Energy's Keystone XL oil pipeline project from Canada…
Bay Diesel Announces Leadership Change
For the first time since its inception in 1982, Bay Diesel has a new president. As voted by their Board of Directors in October 2020, the Senior VP of Sales Willard “Rob” Robins has taken on the role of President, with Scott Wheeler, founder and current president, transferring to a new position as the Chief Executive Officer.This transition has been 17 years in the making. Rob Robins joined Bay Diesel in July of 2003 as a Sales Engineer, having graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 1994 from UVA. Now, he is a certified instructor through the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
US, Guyana to Launch Joint Maritime Patrols Near Venezuela
The United States and Guyana will begin joint maritime patrols aimed at drug interdiction near the South American country’s disputed border with crisis-stricken Venezuela, the U.S. secretary of state and Guyana’s new president said on Friday.The agreement comes as U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil Corp, as part of a consortium with Hess Corp and China’s CNOOC Ltd, ramps up crude output from Guyana’s massive offshore Stabroek block, a large portion of which is in waters claimed by Venezuela.“Greater security…
Interview: Tracy Zea, President & CEO, Waterways Council Inc.
We recently checked in with Tracy Zea, Waterways Council Inc.’s new President & CEO, on what’s in store for the U.S. inland waterways for the remainder of 2020.To start, give us some insight on your background and how you came to lead WCI.I was born and raised in Chandler, Ariz., and attended South Dakota State University, receiving a degree in Political Science. After college, I found my way to Washington, D.C. via an internship with Senator Thune (R-S.D.). After the internship, I was hired by the House of Representatives, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Opedal Tapped for Top Spot at Equinor
The Equinor Board of Directors appointed Anders Opedal as its new president and CEO starting November 2, 2020. Eldar Sætre will retire after six years as CEO and more than 40 years in the company.Opedal ascends to the top spot coming from the position as Executive Vice President Technology, Projects and Drilling. He joined Equinor as a petroleum engineer in 1997, spent many years in Drilling and Well and served as Chief Procurement Officer. In 2011, he was chosen to lead Equinor’s approximately NOK 300 billion project portfolio.
Zea Named WCI President & CEO
Waterways Council, Inc.’s (WCI) Board of Directors unanimously elected Tracy R. Zea as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer. He will assume the new duties effective today.With a broad range of Capitol Hill, policy development and government relations expertise, Zea most recently served as WCI’s Vice President-Government Relations, advocating for WCI’s goals for authorizations and appropriations which support a modern, efficient, reliable inland waterways transportation system.