Executive Committee News

The Transportation Institute (TI), representing U.S.-flag American shipping companies, announced the appointment of Sara Fuentes as President of the organization. Fuentes previously served as the organization’s Vice President for Government Affairs and will lead TI’s continued work to advance a strong U.S.-flag merchant marine and a resilient American maritime workforce.“I am honored by the confidence of the board and grateful for Jim Henry’s extraordinary leadership. TI has long been a leading voice for the U.S.-flag maritime industry and the American merchant marine.

Regal Rexnord Corporation announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Aamir Paul to serve as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), commencing no later than July 1, 2026, upon the conclusion of his responsibilities with his current employer, Schneider Electric SE. The Board has also determined that Mr. Paul will serve as a member of the Board of Directors effective upon the commencement of his employment with the Company, with an initial term continuing until the Company's 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.As previously disclosed on October 29…

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has welcomed DEME Offshore Energy Managing Director Hugo Bouvy as its new President.He succeeded Saipem’s Luca Gentili at the end of his two-year term at a meeting of IMCA’s Board on 18 March.Bruno Pinho, Senior Vice President for Subsea Operations at TechnipFMC, becomes Vice President, and will replace Bouvy as President in two-years’ time.As the offshore marine industry navigates a period of change driven by technological innovation…

French offshore marine services company Bourbon has completed a financial and capital restructuring, with Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP and Fortress Investment Group becoming its majority shareholders.The restructuring marks the start of a new strategic phase aimed at improving profitability, enhancing organizational efficiency, and expanding market presence. Approved in July 2025 by the Marseille Economic Affairs Court, the transaction follows a broader transformation plan launched in 2024.Bourbon has adopted a new unified structure…

Torvald Klaveness has announced that Fabian Flaaten has joined as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective October 28, 2025. Flaaten will report to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ernst Meyer and be part of the Group’s Executive Committee and Holding Management Team. As CFO, Flaaten will play a role in enabling value creation, financial discipline, and long-term strategic direction for the Klaveness Group. He brings more than 20 years of international finance and leadership experience.

Speakers at the 2025 WISTA AGM and Conference, held in Barcelona October 22-24, shared their thoughts on collaboration across maritime, trade, and logistics as a key to achieving goals on equality, gender diversity and decarbonization.The event, the largest staged by the association in its more than 50-year history, brought together over 400 maritime professionals and leaders from around the world.In her keynote speech, WISTA International President, Elpi Petraki stressed that…

“In a global marketplace, supply and demand in one area of the world can greatly impact the agricultural production in another. American products are shipped worldwide …” is how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) describes the backdrop for international trade. The inland and coastwise waterway systems serving the United States (where agricultural cargoes are an important component) are sometimes regarded as insular highly specialized marketplaces. However, they are indeed elements of much larger trading networks that are influenced by global economic…

Lloyd’s List Intelligence has announced the appointment of Waqas Samad as Chief Executive Officer. In his role, Waqas will spearhead the Company’s ongoing global expansion and drive ambitious innovation initiatives, ensuring that as geopolitical developments reshape global trade and heighten the strategic importance of the maritime sector, the company continues to deliver comprehensive and forward-looking trade intelligence solutions.Waqas brings more than three decades of global experience at the intersection of finance, data and technology.

On Wednesday, August 6, 2025 the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) presented Captain (Aqeed) Ahmed Al Badi, Head of the Oman National Hydrographic Office (ONHO), with the Alexander Dalrymple Award for 2025. The award recognizes his services to hydrography. Captain Ahmed Al Badi was invited to the UKHO where he was presented with this year’s award. Hosted by the UK’s National Hydrographer and Director of Data Acquisition and Defence, Rear Admiral Angus Essenhigh OBE, the presentation was attended by members of the wider UKHO team…

Navantia UK has today appointed Donato Martínez as the company's new Chief Executive Officer. Mr Martinez succeeds Juan Ignacio de la Cueva, under whose leadership Navantia UK has accomplished the first steps of the integration of Harland & Wolff, including the unlocking of key investments for the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) program.The leadership change follows a few months of significant progress since the acquisition of Harland & Wolff's four UK shipyards earlier this year. Martinez…

InterManager, the international association for the ship management sector, has elected Sebastian von Hardenberg as President.Sebastian is CEO of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) and was elected by members of InterManager’s Executive Committee during the association’s Annual General Meeting in London this week.An experienced negotiator, he has lobbied on behalf of InterManager members and the ship management sector during his term as Vice President and was instrumental in…

Merja Kallio-Mannila has been appointed as Head of Group Sales, Customer Service and Marketing as of January 1, 2024. Kallio-Mannila also continues as the Head of Sales and Customer Service Finland.Kallio-Mannila has been a member of Finnlines’ Executive Committee since January 2022. She joined Finnlines in 2001 and has since then held several key management positions, most recently as a Deputy Head of Group Sales, Customer Service and Marketing. She succeeds Staffan Herlin, who…

The CMA CGM Group has announced the winners of its first CMA CGM Startup Awards.The international competition, organized in partnership with BFM Business, La Tribune and ZEBOX, attracted over 400 entries from innovative startups. 60 finalists, including 34 French startups, were selected to present their projects. Among the finalists were five startups supported by ZEBOX, the international innovation gas pedal initiated by Rodolphe Saadé.The solutions presented, focusing on the shipping…

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has appointed bp’s Senior Vice President Shipping Lambros Klaoudatos as its new Chair. Lambros takes over the position from Nick Potter, who has been involved with OCIMF at board level since 2014 and has been the organization’s Chair since 2022.Lambros has almost 30-years of industry experience across technical, commercial, project management and leadership roles both at sea and onshore. He began his career sailing on passenger vessels…

The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) has appointed and approved the 2024-2025 term of the NOIA Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Jon Landes, President, Subsea of TechnipFMC has been elected as the NOIA Chair and Joe Leimkuhler, Chief Operating Officer of Beacon Offshore Energy, as the incoming NOIA Vice Chair.NOIA President Erik Milito said, “We are at a critical juncture where it's imperative to ensure that energy policy from Washington, D.C. does not hinder American energy production.

The American Salvage Association (ASA) announced that Mike Dean has been appointed Executive Director. In this role, Dean is responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction to the organization and ensuring that ASA’s mission and objectives are achieved. He oversees day-to-day operations, financial management, government affairs, working committees and ASA staff. Dean reports to ASA’s president, Joseph Farrell, III and works closely with ASA’s Executive Committee.Dean is an industry veteran…

Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. (OOCL) announced it has taken delivery of another new 24,000 TEU mega vessel.Named OOCL Valencia during a ceremony at China's Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd., the newbuild is the seventh eco-friendly 24,188 TEU vessel in a series of 12 ordered by OOCL. It will serve OOCL’s Asia-Europe LL1 service.YU Tao, Director and Member of Executive Committee of OOCL, said at the ceremony: “Last year, OOCL received a total of six new container vessels and thus rapidly optimized the fleet structure of both OOCL and the group.

Orient Overseas Container Line Co., Ltd. (OOCL) today celebrated the naming of the company's twelfth 24,188 TEU newbuilding at a ceremony held at Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. (NACKS) shipyard. The new vessel, named OOCL Portugal, is the last in the 24,188 TEU eco-friendly mega vessel series.Michael Xu, Director and Member of Executive Committee of OOCL, said, “The naming of our last 24,188 TEU new vessel marks an important milestone in the development of OOCL.

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has confirmed that its digitalized Ship Inspection Report Program (SIRE 2.0) is scheduled to ‘go-live’ on Monday 2 September 2024 and become the standard tanker inspection tool for the marine industry.The final transition to SIRE 2.0 and the withdrawal of the option to request a SIRE Vessel Inspection Questionnaire (VIQ7) inspection from Monday 2 September 2024 has been given now that all pre-agreed ‘Critical Success Factors’ for going live have been met and approved by the OCIMF Vessel Inspection Program Steering Group…

Carl-Antoine Saverys has been named CEO of listed Belgian shipowner Exmar, the company announced Tuesday. Effective January 1, 2024, he will take over from Francis Mottrie who will stay on board as COO.After assuming various roles in the shipping industry, Carl-Antoine Saverys has held deputy roles within Exmar over the past six years, including the company’s infrastructure department and thereafter at the shipping department.Joining him at the executive top level are newly appointed CFO…

Retailers are fueling a summer rush of imports to the United States this year as companies guard against a potential strike by port workers and ongoing shipping disruptions from attacks in the Red Sea ahead of a shortened holiday shopping season.Container imports and freight rates surged in July, signaling an earlier than usual peak season for an ocean shipping industry that handles about 80% of global trade.July is expected to be the peak for U.S. retailers, which account for about half of that trade…

CMA CGM is launching the CMA CGM Startup Awards, an international competition to support the best startups in maritime transport, logistics, and media.From July 23 to September 15, 2024, entrepreneurs worldwide in these three sectors are invited to apply via the ZEBOX website. Winners will receive funding, tailored support, and collaboration opportunities with the Group on strategic projects.CMA CGM believes that entrepreneurial innovation is growing globally, addressing major challenges of our time and industry.

Industry trade group the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) announced the addition of four CEOs to its board of directors.The new board members include Wes Bordelon, Chief Executive Officer, Bordelon Marine; Stacy Jo Stanley, Chief Executive Officer, Offshore Oil Services, Inc.; David Dantin, Chief Executive Officer, Odyssea Marine; and Lasse Petterson, Chief Executive Officer, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock."With the addition of these four executive leaders, OMSA pays homage to its roots while welcoming expanded opportunities in emerging energy frontiers…