World Maritime Body Elects MMA President

President Leonard H. Tyler of Maine Maritime Academy was elected chairman of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) at the group's recent conference in Rockport, Maine. He succeeds Dr. Kyoshi Hara of the University of Mercantile Marine in Kobe, Japan. Established in 1999 by the Nippon Foundation, IAMU focuses on maritime education and training, safety at sea, and the promotion of global maritime excellence. Currently, the association includes 34 universities in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. "This group reflects the globalization of the maritime industry," Tyler said. "Because ship's officers and crew are being held to a high international standard, Maine Maritime and its counterparts throughout the world must constantly strive to improve the quality of their educational programs. We can learn a great deal from one another." IAMU supports academic research, publishes professional journals, and holds a general assembly each year. Previous sessions were held in Istanbul and Kobe. The 2003 conference is set for Alexandria, Egypt. Tyler has served as president of MMA since 1994. A 33-year veteran of the MMA faculty and administration, he is a member of the American Bureau of Shipping and a former president of the Downeast College Consortium.