United Seamen News

The International Propeller Club of the United States elected C. James Patti as its new International President at its 95th Convention and Port President's meeting. As International President, Patti will serve as the CEO and lead the business and affairs of the Club and its 70 port chapters worldwide. Patti succeeded Niels Aalund of Houston, Texas, as International President, who said "Jim Patti's broad experience, maritime contacts, and devotion to the Propeller Club will profoundly enhance our organization." Also elected were Maria Conatser of Nashville as First Vice President and Treasurer…

Crowley Maritime Corp. announced today that Ray Fitzgerald, who began his career with Crowley and most recently served as president and chief operating officer of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions, and chairman of American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC), will rejoin the company March 1 as chief operating officer reporting to Tom Crowley, company chairman and CEO. He will be based at the company’s headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla.Fitzgerald will lead the team of Crowley’s four senior vice presidents and general managers: Rocky Smith…

The United Seamen’s Service  announced that U.S. Secretary of Transportation, The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, will receive the 2019 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award based on her career-long commitment to the maritime industry. The other, previously announced recipients are James Given, President of the Seafarers International Union of Canada; Anil Mathur, President and CEO of Alaska Tanker Corp.; and Joseph Pyne, Chairman of the Board of the Kirby Corporation.The award will be presented at the 50th annual AOTOS gala at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, New York City, on November 1, 2019.

Project, breakbulk and heavylift cargo transport company Intermarine, LLC announced that its President & CEO, Andre Grikitis, will be awarded with the Admiral of the Ocean Sea by the United Seaman’s Service (USS) at the organization’s 48th annual gala at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, New York City, on October 13, 2017. The Admiral of The Ocean Sea Award (AOTOS) has been presented annually by United Seamen's Service for the past 47 years. The AOTOS Award is given in…

Officers and crewmembers of the Crowley Maritime Corp.-managed cargo ship M/V Ocean Glory were recently honored with a 2016 Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Mariners’ Plaque for demonstrating heroism at sea during the United Seamen’s Service’s (USS) annual AOTOS awards ceremony in New York. The mariners were recognized for their August 2016 rescue of an Indonesian fisherman in the vicinity of the Bali Strait while en route to Banyuwangi, Indonesia. Accepting the award on behalf of the ship's officers and crew was Capt. Christopher Hill, master on the M/V Ocean Glory.

Arthur E. Imperatore, Founder and President of New York Waterways; Captain Donald Marcus, International President of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots; and Christopher Wiernicki, Chairman, President and CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping, were recipients of the maritime industry's most prestigious Admiral of the Ocean Sea awards presented at the 47th annual United Seamen's Service gala industry dinner and dance October 28, 2016. The event was held at the at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, New York City. Recognition was also given to American seafarers for specific acts of bravery and heroism while at sea. (See separate news release).

ABS Chairman, President and CEO, Christopher J. Wiernicki, was honored for his contributions to the maritime industry by the United Seamen’s Service (USS) as a recipient of the Admiral of the Ocean Seas Award on October  28, 2016 in New York. “I am humbled to accept this award, not for me, but rather on behalf of the more than 5,000 worldwide employees of ABS and the 1.5 million mariners who day in and day out keep this industry moving and our global economy expanding,” Wiernicki said. The award is conferred on those who have made noteworthy contributions to the maritime industry.

The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2016 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) will be presented to Arthur E. Imperatore, Founder and President of New York Waterways; Donald Marcus, President of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots; and Christopher Wiernicki, Chairman and CEO of American Bureau of Shipping. The maritime industry's most prestigious awards will be presented at the 47th annual gala industry dinner and dance at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, New York City, on October 28, 2016. Recognition will also be given to American seafarers for specific acts of bravery and heroism while at sea. General Kenneth Wykle…

The United Seamen's Service (USS) honored Anthony Chiarello, President and CEO of TOTE Inc.; Matthew J. Cox, President and CEO of Matson; and James C. McKenna, President and CEO of Pacific Maritime Association with the 2015 Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Award. The maritime industry's most prestigious award was presented at the 46th annual gala held at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, New York City, on November 13, 2015. At this gala, the recipients shared the evening with a group of American seafarers who were recognized by the USS for specific acts of bravery at sea. All three recipients shared a history of early family ties to the maritime industry. Mr. McKenna spoke of his father-in-law introducing him to the waterfront nearly 45 years ago. Mr.

Anthony Chiarello, Matthew J. Cox and James C. The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2015 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) will be presented to Anthony Chiarello, President and CEO of TOTE; Matthew J. Cox, President/CEO of Matson Inc.; and James C. McKenna, President and CEO of Pacific Maritime Association. The maritime industry awards are to be presented at the 46th annual gala industry dinner and dance in New York on November 13, 2015. Recognition will also be given to American seafarers for specific acts of bravery and heroism while at sea.

The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2014 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) were presented to Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF); Joseph J. Cox, President/CEO, Chamber of Shipping of America; and Frederick J. Harris, President of General Dynamics NASSCO and Bath Iron Works, an American shipbuilder. The maritime industry's most prestigious awards were presented at a gala industry dinner and dance held at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, New York City, on November 7, 2014.

The MV Cape Ray, a Keystone-managed Ready Reserve Force containership that worked in the Mediterranean Sea for the U.S. Government neutralizing chemical material from Syria, will receive a special recognition on November 7 at the United Seamen's Service Admiral of the Ocean Sea (USS AOTOS) event. Military and civilian specialists spent some 10 months completing the mission of neutralizing more than 600 tons or 80 percent of Syria's stockpile. The effluents were then dropped off at Finland and Germany for final disposal.

The United Seamen's Service (USS) informs that 2014 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) will be presented to Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF); Joseph J. Cox, President/CEO, Chamber of Shipping of America; and Frederick J. Harris, President of  American shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO. The awards will be presented at a gala industry dinner and dance to be held at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, New York City, on November 7, 2014. Recognition will also be given to American Seafarers for specific acts of bravery and heroism while at sea. In announcing the recipients…

Seafarers & International House will hold its 14th annual Setting the Course awards banquet the at the New York Athletic Club on Tuesday evening, April 22, 2014 to honor Donald J. Marcus, Edward R. Morgan and Captain Richard P. Phillips as the 2014 Outstanding Friends of Seafarers. •Don Marcus is the President of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, having served for many years as its Secretary-Treasurer. He is also the first president of the Maritime Labor Alliance (MLA), an organization formed by six unions to revitalize the U.S flag feet, to enhance cooperation within the maritime industry and to protect the jurisdictional rights of the maritime union members.

Two Maersk Line Ltd. ships have been honored with Mariners’ Plaques for performing rescues at sea. The awards to the officers and crews of the containership, Maersk Utah, and the oceanographic survey vessel, USNS Bowditch, were presented at the Admiral of the Ocean Seas (AOTOS) award dinner on Friday, November 15 in New York. AOTOS is the maritime industry’s highest award and is the main fundraiser for United Seamen’s Service (USS) which operates seafarer welfare centers in ports around the world.

Six vessels and two individual mariners were recognized for courageous acts at sea at the 44th annual United Seamen's Service (USS) 2013 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) attended by more than 700 guests at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel in New York City. The AUTOS award was presented to Philip W. J. Fisher, President of Chas. Kurz & Co; U. S. Representative Peter King, Republican of New York; and Emanuel Rouvelas, maritime attorney and partner at K & L Gates. The Honorable…

The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2013 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) will be presented to Philip W. J. Fisher, President of Chas. Kurz & Co; U. S. Representative Peter King, Republican of New York; and Emanuel Rouvelas, maritime attorney and partner at K & L Gates. The maritime industry's most prestigious awards will be presented at a gala industry dinner and dance to be held at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, New York City, on November 15, 2013. Recognition will also be given to American Seafarers for specific acts of bravery and heroism while at sea. In announcing the recipients, General Kenneth Wykle, USA(ret.), Chairman of the USS AOTOS Committee…

Crowley Maritime Corp. President, Chairman and CEO Tom Crowley became an honorary alumnus of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) during a banquet recently held in his honor. The USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation, along with its affiliated Jacksonville Chapter, recognized Crowley for his years of unstinting support of the academy and its cadets in front of more than 130 guests, including past and present Crowley employees and USMMA graduates, at the University Club in Jacksonville, Fla.

President of TOTE Services, Captain Jorge Aguirre, retires after 33 years with the company, to be replaced by Retired Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, Philip H. Greene, Jr. Captain Aguirre spent 16 years at sea, coming ashore with TOTE Services in June of 1980 as a Port Captain at the Philadelphia headquarters of the company, then known as Interocean Management Corporation or IOM. He served as Manager of Operations, then Senior Vice President and in 2001 was made President. He has made significant contributions to the industry by lending his experience and interest in vessel safety…

Crew of Crowley-Managed Ocean Titan Awarded for Heroism at Sea with 2012 AOTOS Mariners’ Plaque. Officers and crewmembers of the Crowley Maritime Corp.-managed M/V Ocean Titan were recently honored with a 2012 Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Mariners’ Plaque for demonstrating heroism at sea during the United Seamen’s Service’s (USS) annual AOTOS awards ceremony in New York. The mariners were recognized for their December 2011 rescue of the seven-member crew of the M/V Florece…

Five separate episodes of heroism and bravery on the high seas were recognized at the 42nd annual United Seamen's Service Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) dinner. The AOTOS event itself honored James L. Henry, Chairman and President of the Transportation Institute; General Duncan J. McNabb, USAF, former Commander, U.S. Transportation Command; and Robert D. Somerville, Chairman of ABS (formerly the American Bureau of Shipping). The maritime industry's most prestigious awards since…

James Henry, General Duncan McNabb and Robert Somerville Receive 2011 Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Awards. United Seamen's Service 42nd award dinner held in N.Y. on October 28, 2011. The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2011 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) were presented to James L. Henry, Chairman and President of the Transportation Institute; General Duncan J. McNabb, USAF, former Commander, U.S. Transportation Command; and Robert D. Somerville, Chairman of ABS (formerly the American Bureau of Shipping). The maritime industry's most prestigious awards since 1969 were presented at a gala industry dinner and dance for more than 700 people at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, New York City.

Most Prestigious Award Given in the Transportation and Maritime Industry. The American Maritime Partnership congratulated its Chairman James Henry for receiving the 2011 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award (AOTOS) presented by the United Seaman’s Service (USS) at the 42nd annual industry gala dinner on October 28, 2011. American Maritime Partnership Vice Chairman Thomas Allegretti said, “Jim Henry’s strong leadership has benefited the American maritime industry for nearly 25 years. His work has been especially critical in ensuring the integrity of the Jones Act, despite significant assaults on it over the past two decades. As Chairman of AMP…