Dr. Rosalie Balkin Receives IMO International Maritime Prize
Dr. Rosalie Balkin, who was nominated by the Government of Australia, was honoured at the annual IMO Awards Ceremony, held in London on November 24, 2025. The ceremony followed the first day of the 34th session of the IMO Assembly, taking place from November 24 to December 3, 2025. Handing Dr. Balkin the silver dolphin trophy, IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez commended her five-decade career, in which she has broken new ground, including as the first woman to lead the CMI - the world’s oldest organization focused on unifying international maritime law - since it was founded in 1897.
Rosalie Balkin to Receive International Maritime Prize
Dr. Rosalie Balkin, Secretary-General of the Comité Maritime International (CMI) and former Director of Legal Affairs and External Relations Division at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has been named the recipient of the International Maritime Prize for 2024. The decision was announced today by the IMO Council during its 134th session (July 7-11). Nominated by the Government of Australia, Dr Balkin was recognized for her contributions to international maritime law over a career spanning more than 50 years.
Oil Prices Fall From Recent Highs Amidst Middle East Tensions
Oil prices fell on Thursday after sharp gains in the previous session as market participants assessed a U.S. decision to move personnel from the Middle East ahead of talks with Iran over that country's nuclear-related activity.Brent crude futures were down $1.02, or 1.5%, at $68.75 a barrel at 1253 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.05, or 1.5%, to $67.10 a barrel.Both Brent and WTI surged more than 4% in the previous session to their highest levels since early April.U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S.
Danfoss' Leichtfried Elected to NEMA Board
Danfoss Drives’ Hannes Leichtfried has been elected to serve on the National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s (NEMA) Board of Governors.NEMA announced the election of three new board members and three new officers on November 13, following its 2024 Annual Meeting. Leichtfried, an industry veteran and current vice president of sales and marketing for Danfoss Drives in North America, brings nearly 30 years of experience in electrification to the position. He will serve a three-year term alongside executives from companies such as Cisco Systems…
Maritime Implications of Recent US Supreme Court Rulings
In recent weeks the U.S. Supreme Court has fundamentally changed the ways that laws are interpreted and enforced by federal agencies. These decisions will have far-reaching impacts on heavily-regulated sectors, such as the U.S. maritime industry, potentially altering the balance of power between stakeholders and federal regulators.Civil penalties require 7th Amendment protectionsOn June 27, 2024, in SEC v. Jarkesy, the Supreme Court held that under the Seventh Amendment, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must bring civil-penalty actions for securities fraud in federal court…
Rear Admiral Peter Brady Retires from Maritime Authority of Jamaica
Maritime Authority of Jamaica’s Director General, Rear Admiral (ret’d) Peter Brady, has retired, with the position being accepted by Bertrand Smith, formerly the MAJ’s Director of Legal Affairs.Brady has served in this role since the Maritime Authority’s inception in 1999.As Director General, he was primarily responsible for elevating Jamaica’s maritime status regionally and globally. He spearheaded several major initiatives by the MAJ including the development of Jamaica as a shipping hub with attendant services such as bunkering and drydocking…
World Maritime University Graduates Class of '23
On 28 October, the maritime leaders of tomorrow - World Maritime University (WMU) class of 2023 - graduated. The WMU 2023 graduating class includes 283 graduates from 71 countries, including a record of 99 women graduates.WMU President, Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr., delivered welcome remarks. As a WMU graduate himself, President Mejia reflected on the power of the WMU experience and how it affects the way one thinks, works, plans, and interacts. “You have acquired information that you did not possess before you enrolled here," he said.
World Maritime University Celebrates 2022 Graduation
On October 31, 2022, global maritime leaders of tomorrow graduated from the World Maritime University (WMU). The Class of 2022 has received the education required to contribute to maritime and ocean matters in their home countries and more broadly to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Overall, the graduating class includes 276 graduates from 70 countries, and sets a record of 94 women graduates.WMU President Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia…
Fact Check: J.P. Morgan Did Not Sink the Titanic
A widely-shared meme has taken several facts about the Titanic out of context to make unsubstantiated claims that imply the ship’s sinking was a deliberate act. This is not true—experts widely agree the sinking of the Titanic was an accident. The meme was posted to Facebook on March 1 and has been shared more than 600 times (here). It consists of two images: one of the ship and a second of American financier John Pierpont (J.P.) Morgan. These sit alongside a wall of text that…
BMT Names Godwin APAC Business Development Director
Engineering firm BMT said it has appointed John Godwin as Regional Business Development Director for the Asia Pacific region. Based in Adelaide, Australia, Godwin will oversee the business development for the Asia Pacific region including Asia, Australia, and the Pacific.Godwin has over 25 years’ combined defense and industry experience, spanning engineering, consulting, business development, programs, operations, and general management. His international experience includes Europe, South East Asia, and the Middle East.
Liberia Opens Maritime Training Institute
The Liberia Maritime Training Institute (LMTI) was officially opened by Liberia President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf during an inauguration ceremony in Marshall City, Liberia, on January 5. The facility is named after John G Bestman, former Liberian finance minister and a member of the board of governors of the Central Bank of Liberia. Under the management of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), LMTI has undergone a massive renovation and facility modernization program over the past two years, resulting in the creation of a new campus and state-of-the-art facilities.
Jamaica Elected to Council C Category of IMO Council
Jamaica has reestablished its position at the heart of international maritime rule-making following its election to the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Council. The nation was elected as a Category C Council member on December 1, and will serve until 2019. The Maritime Authority of Jamaica’s (MAJ) Director General, Rear Admiral Peter Brady previously chaired the former IMO’s Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (STW) sub-committee between 2003 and 2012, now called the Human Resource Training and Watchkeeping Sub Committee.
Voices: Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President, World Maritime University
To say that Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry is passionate about all matters surrounding maritime and seafarers is a bit of an understatement. Prior to taking the helm as president of the World Maritime University (WMU) two years ago, she served as the Director of the International Labor Standards Department of the International Labor Office (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, responsible for developing the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was at WMU…
Jamaican Elected to WMU Board
Maritime Authority of Jamaica’s (MAJ) Director General Rear Admiral Peter Brady has been elected as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmo, Sweden. The appointment has been welcomed by Jamaica’s maritime community as recognition for the MAJ’s focus on training and the Admiral’s crucial role within the international shipping sector. served as a visiting lecturer between 2003 and 2004. He has been a serving member on the WMU Board of Governors since 2007. Admiral Peter Brady said: “This recognition is good for Jamaica’s reputation as a Maritime State and confirms its status as a member of Council of the IMO in Category C”.
Retailers Applaud Introduction of Port Legislation
Senate bill aims to mitigate impact of labor disputes at America’s ports. In a letter sent today, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) welcomed the introduction of the Protecting Orderly and Responsible Transit of Shipments (PORTS) Act in the U.S Senate. The bill, sponsored by Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), would amend the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to provide state governors a mechanism under federal law to mitigate the destructive impact of port labor disputes on the economy at both the state and federal level. Specifically, the legislation would authorize a governor from a state where a port labor dispute is causing economic harm to form a board of inquiry and start the Taft Hartley process.
MAJ Dir. Gen. Receives Global Award
Rear Admiral Peter Brady, Director General of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, was deeply honoured to receive the prestigious IMO Themed Award for World Maritime Day 2015 "Maritime education and training", sponsored by the China Classification Society, at last night’s 27th Seatrade Awards Ceremony. The Admiral’s award was in recognition of his dedicated work in the sphere of maritime training. Rear Admiral Brady chaired the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) STW Sub Committee for almost 10 years and was Chairman of the Committee of the Whole at the Diplomatic Conference in Manila which amended the STCW Convention and STCW Code.
Dr. Doumbia-Henry Named WMU President
Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry has been appointed president to head the World Maritime University (WMU), as announced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and university. Dr. Doumbia-Henry will be the seventh WMU president and will be the first female in the role. Dr. Doumbia-Henry, who has dual Dominican and Swiss nationality, is currently director of the International Labor Standards Department, of the International Labor Office of the International Labor Organization (ILO). She is expected to assume office as WMU President, in Malmö, Sweden, in July.
GasLog Appoints New Director
GasLog Ltd. today announced that the Board has appointed Mr. Donald Kintzer as a new independent member of the Board of GasLog effective 27 October, 2014. Donald Kintzer has also been appointed a member of the Audit & Risk Committee of the Company. Mr. Kintzer will remain a member of the Board and Chairman of the Audit Committee of GasLog Partners LP. Mr. Kintzer was a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC"), having retired in 2008, after an association of over 31 years. From 2005 to 2008, he was the managing partner of PwC’s West Region (US) Advisory practice, including the San Francisco/Silicon Valley market and was a member of PwC’s national leadership team. Mr.
Huntington Ingalls Industries Sponsors USO Gala
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announces its sponsorship of the annual USO Gala, which will take place tonight at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. HII's sponsorship will help enable the USO to continue its mission of lifting the spirits of troops and their families through the many programs the organization delivers to services members, their families and wounded warriors. "We are proud to sponsor the USO and help in any way possible to support its important mission," said HII President and CEO Mike Petters. "The USO does so much to improve the lives of our service men and women and their families around the world. This year the USO celebrates its 73rd anniversary.
BP Names New Group Chief Economist
BP today announced the appointment of Spencer Dale as its new Group Chief Economist with effect from the end of October. Mr Dale joins BP from the Bank of England where he is currently Executive Director for Financial Stability Strategy and Risk. He is also a member of the Bank’s Financial Policy Committee. In his previous capacity as the Bank’s Chief Economist, Mr Dale served for six years on the Monetary Policy Committee. Since joining the Bank in 1989, Mr Dale’s roles included working as private secretary to former Governor Mervyn King and a secondment as a visiting Senior Adviser in the Division of Monetary Affairs at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in the United States.
Vigor Industrial Promotes Bryan Nichols and Grant Fosheim
Vigor Industrial made two promotions in its sales and marketing team, advancing Bryan Nichols to Manager of Sales and Marketing and Grant Fosheim to Sales and Marketing Associate. Bryan Nichols joined Vigor Industrial in 2011 as a sales representative. He will now serve as Manager of Vigor’s Sales and Marketing division, which is focused on the new build and major refit markets. He will supervise Vigor’s sales staff and play a key role in developing the company’s overall sales and marketing strategy.
Bank President Visits Panama Canal Locks
President of Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno, visits the construction site of the new locks in Colon province. The new locks, situated on the Atlantic side, were visited by Moreno, accompanied by IDB delegates, who are in Panama to participate in the Fifty-Fourth Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors which takes place from March 14 to 17, 2013. During the visit, Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Luis Quijano presented an update on the progress of the Expansion Program.
Nor-Shipping 2013 Announce Speaker Lineup
Nor-Shipping 2013 opens just three months from now with a cast of speakers featuring top executives from world-leading companies covering the entire value chain of themaritime industry – from shipowners and technology and service companies to regulators and financiers. Among speakers welcoming delegates to the Opening Conference on June 4 will be Norway’s Minister of Trade and Industry Trond Giske, who will provide a governmental perspective, and IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu, who will share regulatory insights.HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway will also attend.