Robert Johnston News

On December 21, Rear Admiral Michael Alfultis, president of SUNY Maritime, signed two agreements setting SUNY Maritime College on a new course for success. The College and the Fort Schuyler Maritime Alumni Association are now partners for the benefit of the College, its students and its alumni. On the same day, the SUNY Maritime Foundation was launched publicly to support the College’s strategic initiatives, to expand its reach and to support its goal of developing additional resources.

Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. announced today that Captain Robert Johnston, President and Chief Executive Officer, will retire from the company effective immediately. He will continue to advise the company as a consultant through mid-2015. “Bob’s contributions to OSG’s success over the past 45 years cannot be overstated,” said John Ray, Chairman of the Board of OSG. “He is an incredibly skilled shipping operator and industry leader, and he was instrumental in our ability to maintain uninterrupted, high-quality service to our customers during our restructuring. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire OSG family, I would like to thank him for his decades of service and wish him well in his retirement.

“In 2014, does it still make sense for P&I Clubs to underwrite routine health and accident claims?” asks Robert Johnston, head of the crew medical and personal accident insurance specialist Crewsure. Commenting on the heightened atmosphere of the P&I renewal season, Mr Johnston added, “Clubs have inherited the task of dealing with seafarers who need medical treatment. Yet they are not healthcare insurers - they are ill equipped to provide 24/7 no fault medical plans or to negotiate standard fees with hospitals, and so for many years they have been forced to battle rising health bills.

In the superyacht industry, it is particularly well understood that good relationships between owners and their crew have a direct impact on how well yachts are run, and the quality and consistency of the charter service offered. An important new insurance product, Crewsure Marine, which assists owners and managers in protecting the health and wellbeing of their crews and so meets forthcoming legal obligations under the recently ratified Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) is now being aimed at this unique sector of the market.

Crewsure appointed G2 Crew Services, the recently formed partnership between Griffin Global Group Limited and Gulf Agency Company Limited, to act as its global correspondent. Crewsure provides medical and personal accident insurance directly to crew and is underwritten by the Munich Group, one of the world's leading Insurance Companies. The benefits provided are tailored to meet the needs of crew and the latest requirements of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC). “Crewsure complements…

Overseas Shipholding Group announce the appointment of Captain Robert Johnston as President & CEO. Morten Arntzen has resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company to be succeeded by Johnston. Captain Robert Johnston will serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective immediately. He was previously the Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Flag Strategic Business Unit. “The Board thanks Morten Arntzen for his service, including during recent challenging times,” said Michael J.

A major new Insurance product, which assists shipowners and Managers in protecting the health and wellbeing of their shipboard personnel, and so meet their forthcoming legal obligations under the recently ratified Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), has just been launched. Seafarers deserve the same care and concern, the same rights to benefits, the same access to the best medical treatment, the same security expected and enjoyed by those who work ashore. This is the vision that has inspired the launch of Crewsure Marine…

The Maritime Administration and Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc, yesterday signed an agreement that will provide training opportunities for American maritime academy cadets on board OSG’s international vessels. The public-private partnership is the first formal agreement to make available on-board training billets in the international fleet for U.S. maritime academy cadets. Under the terms of the agreement, cadets from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and all six state maritime academies will be able to obtain work experience and training on board OSG vessels. Under international and national requirements, maritime academy cadets must serve at sea, for an average of 300 days, in order to obtain enough shipboard training for a merchant marine officer license.