AMO Currents - AMO members, contracted operating companies recognized for safe operations

AMO Currents - Posted: July 1, 2014

AMO members, contracted operating companies recognized for safe operations

The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) recognized more than 85 vessels operated under contract with American Maritime Officers with Jones F. Devlin Awards presented to 13 companies. Additionally, the tanker Sunshine State, operated by Intrepid Personnel & Provisioning, was among the ships recognized by the CSA with a Safety Achievement Award Letter of Commendation.

Devlin Awards are presented to companies with vessels that have operated for at least two years without a lost-time injury. The officers and crew of the Sunshine State were recognized for assisting three groups of Cuban refugees in the Florida Straits.

More than 200 people representing over 90 companies and organizations, including AMO, attended the annual event held May 29 in New Orleans, La.

"We have been holding these annual award ceremonies since 1958," said CSA President Joseph Cox. "For that initial year, we honored six vessels having a total of 12 years operation with no lost time incidents. This year, we gave awards to 1,583 vessels that operated 9,658 years without a lost-time incident. This extraordinary record is directly attributable to the professionalism of our seafarers and the dedication of shore-based company personnel to safe operation."

Among the companies recognized that own and/or operate vessels manned under contract by AMO were Crescent Towing; Crowley Liner Services; General Dynamics American Overseas Marine; Intrepid Personnel & Provisioning (Crowley); Keystone Shipping Co. (Key Lakes); Maersk Line, Limited; Ocean Duchess, Inc.; Ocean Shipholdings, Inc.; OSG Ship Management, Inc.; Seabulk Tankers, Inc.; Seabulk Towing, Inc.; TOTE Services, Inc.; and U.S. Shipping Corp.

The Chamber of Shipping of America represents 35 U.S.-based companies that own, operate or charter oceangoing tankers, containerships and other merchant vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades, as well as entities that maintain a commercial interest in the operation of such vessels.

AMO member Captain Stephen Foster (center), master on the Sunshine State, accepts a Safety Achievement Award Letter of Commendation from the Chamber of Shipping of America on behalf of the tanker's officers and crew.

AMO members Chief Engineer Steve Lancaster of the Seabulk Trader, Chief Engineer Steve Dinnes of the Seabulk Challenge, Captain Mike Parker, master on the Seabulk Challenge, and Captain Mark Maxim, master on the Seabulk Trader, accept Devlin Awards from the Chamber of Shipping of America on behalf of the officers and crews of vessels operated by Seabulk Tankers, Inc.

AMO members accepting Devlin Awards from the Chamber of Shipping of America on behalf of the officers and crews of vessels operated by U.S. Shipping Corp. included (front) Captain Jack Ryan, master on the tanker Houston, Captain Thomas Mackrell, master on the ATB Brownsville, and Captain Bob Corbett, master on the ATB Corpus Christi. With them were (standing) U.S. Shipping Corp. Vice President and CFO Al Bergeron, COO Bill Braman, Safety and Environmental Manager Ray Marquardt, and President and CEO Mike Ryan.