Industry Leaders Elected To ABS Membership
Twenty-four prominent shipping industry executives have been elected as new Members of ABS bringing the classification society's worldwide membership to 817. The members, each eminent in their maritime field of endeavor, provide broad governance and oversight of ABS. Members are drawn from various sectors of the marine, offshore and related industries worldwide. Timothy J. Lawrence R. James J. John R. RADM. Robert C. Vittorio Portunato, Managing Director, Portunato & C.S.R.L. John F. Reinhart, CEO, Maersk Line. William J. H. W.
AWO Members Win Benkert Award
The USCG has honored AWO members Crowley Marine Services, Inc. and Southern Towing Company with the William M. Benkert Award for excellence in marine environmental protection. Benkert Awards for the year 2000 competition were presented in four categories: large and small vessel operating companies, and large and small marine facility operators. AWO member Crowley Marine Services, Inc., headquartered in Seattle, won the large vessel category. AWO member Southern Towing Company, based in Memphis, Tenn., shared the award for the small vessel category. Rear Admiral Robert C. North, assistant commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection, presented the awards at the American Petroleum Institute Tanker Conference in La Jolla, California. The USCG's William M.
USCG-AWO Group Works on Barge Inspection Program
USCG inspection experts and tank barge operators have formed a quality action team (QAT) to develop a new barge inspection program to ease industry concerns regarding the USCG's Streamlined Inspection Program (SIP). The SIP, which is well-suited to the needs of complex inspection regimes, does not provide enough flexibility to address the unique inspection needs of tank barge operators. The goal of the new effort is to produce an alternative compliance approach and new regulations allowing for some form of audited self-inspection. In meetings with Rear Admiral Robert C. North, assistant commandant for marine safety and environmental protection, and Rear Admiral Paul J.
STCW Focus Team Chartered
RADM Robert C. North, the Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection, has chartered an STCW Implementation Focus and Coordination Team to monitor the progress of an coordinate efforts to implement the provisions of the International Convention on Standards for Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995 (STCW Convention). The team will develop a coordination plan which will explain how the USCG will monitor and coordinate the steps being taken in the U.S. through the implementation period to give the STCW Convention full and complete effect. The team's leader is Capt. Bob Skewes…
STCW Focus Team Chartered
RADM Robert C. North, the Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection, has chartered an STCW Implementation Focus and Coordination Team to monitor the progress of an coordinate efforts to implement the provisions of the International Convention on Standards for Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995 (STCW Convention). The team will develop a coordination plan which will explain how the USCG will monitor and coordinate the steps being taken in the U.S. through the implementation period to give the STCW Convention full and complete effect. The team's leader is Capt. Bob Skewes…
USCG: Standing Watch Over The Cruise Industry
In testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives on the matter of Cruise Ship Safety, U.S. coast Guard Rear Admiral Robert C. North, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection, made some interesting observations. Central to his testimony, however, was a call for support of the USCG Deepwater recapitalization of cutters, aircraft and CFISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, sensors, and reconnaissance), a bolstering of assets critical to offshore rescue operations, particularly if the offloading of thousands of passengers from today's large cruise ships, was ever needed. Following are select quotes from his testimony. •"Much of the history of the regulation of maritime safety has been reactive — disasters followed by legislation.
