Passenger Vessel Sector Faces Winding Path Back to ‘Normal’
The year just ended, 2021, might be described as being about “trying to get back to normal”, across the entire transportation spectrum, two years into the pandemic. During this time, the decarbonization and electrification waves have swept across maritime passenger transport. The passenger side of the business is dependent on multiple funding sources; increasingly, this money will be driven by environmental and social considerations.The long-awaited funding of “infrastructure”-related projects…
Cyber World: Safer Seas via Phantom Ships
Are we that far away from phantom fully autonomous vessels plying the world’s seas? Not according to many in the know. Many predict by 2020 that we will see this type of ship with a limited crew in smaller applications such as the marine highway short haul scenarios, local ferry service such as the Staten Island ferry and offshore supply boats in the Gulf of Mexico. Phantom/drone unmanned ships reportedly would be safer, cheaper and less polluting for an industry that carries approximately 90 percent of the world trade. However as with aircraft drones and on the horizon driverless auto’s, we must be concerned with regulatory and safety issues.
Combatting Maritime Cyber Security Threats
The U.S. Executive Branch has declared that the cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation, and that America’s economic prosperity in the 21st century will depend on effective cyber security. Before the maritime industry sounds the danger signal, it needs to monitor other industries and branches of the government and take proactive preventative measures. There is no better place to prepare future and current mariners for these challenges than in maritime simulators.
Genco Names Wobensmith President
Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (OTCBB: GSKNF) has announced that John C. Wobensmith, the company's CFO has been appointed as President effective December 19, 2014. He succeeds Robert Gerald Buchanan, who will retire as of the same date. Buchanan has served as President of Genco since June 2005. "John's appointment as President represents the significant contributions he has made to Genco since joining the Company close to a decade ago as well as his deep knowledge of the drybulk industry," said Peter C. Georgiopoulos, Chairman of the Board. "John has played a critical role in strengthening Genco's prospects and I am confident that under his leadership the Company is poised to both further strengthen its standing in the drybulk industry and create long-term shareholder value.
Intelsat Appoints John Diercksen to Board of Directors
Intelsat S.A., a satellite services provider, announced that its board of directors has elected John W. Diercksen to serve on the board as an independent director effective today. Mr. Diercksen will also serve on the Audit Committee. Mr. Diercksen is currently an executive vice president of Verizon Communications, with responsibility for key strategic initiatives related to the review and assessment of potential mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. At Verizon, he previously held the position of executive vice president…
Sobon CFO of Drew Marine
Drew Marine USA, Inc. announced the appointment of Walter Sobon as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Sobon will be responsible for all finance and treasury functions, information systems and financial strategic planning. Sobon joins Drew Marine from Constar International Inc., an $800m publicly traded manufacturer of plastic containers, where he was CFO. Prior to Constar, Sobon was CFO for VWR International, a $2.8b provider of chemicals, equipment and services.
