Industry News – Professional Mariner

05 Aug

Pacific-Gulf Marine gets management contracts for six MarAd ships

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry NewsMarAd, Ready Reserve Fleet

(NEW ORLEANS) — Pacific-Gulf Marine (PGM) has been awarded three 10-year firm contracts with a total value of $621 million, including fixed fees and reimbursables. Of the six ships PGM will manage on behalf of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd), two are out-ported in the San Francisco Bay Area, two in Newport News, Va., and two in New Orleans. These…

04 Aug

Eric Stolzenberg named director of NTSB’s Office of Marine Safety

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newscasualties, NTSB

(WASHINGTON) — Longtime mariner and investigator Eric Stolzenberg has been named director of the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) Office of Marine Safety. The office investigates major marine accidents within the United States and its territories, as well as accidents involving U.S.-flagged vessels worldwide. Stolzenberg began his career at the NTSB in 2008 as an engineering investigator. He served as…

04 Aug

Bristol Harbor Group Inc. welcomes new naval architect

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsshipbuilding

(BRISTOL, R.I.) — Bristol Harbor Group Inc. (BHGI) has welcomed Gordon Fream as a naval architect. Fream holds a bachelor’s degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from the University of Michigan. Before joining BHGI, Fream interned at General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego, where he supported key projects for the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. He also interned at…

22 Jul

Switlik Survival Products names Sarah Switlik as president

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newssafety, Search and rescue

(TRENTON, N.J.) — Switlik Survival Products, a global leader in survival solutions for over 100 years, has announced the promotion of Sarah Switlik to president. Formerly serving as chief operating officer for five years, Switlik will now lead a team of 170 employees and assume full responsibility for day-to-day operations, a role she has been gradually stepping into over the…

21 Jul

Dredging association honors Conrad for commitment to safety

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsdredging, shipbuilding

(MORGAN CITY, La.) — Conrad Shipyard has been awarded the Western Dredging Association (WEDA) Safety Excellence Award in the Dredging Trade Partner category. This recognition highlights Conrad's commitment to safety, operational excellence and its longstanding partnership with the U.S. dredging industry. Presented during the 2025 WEDA Annual Dredging Summit & Expo, the award celebrates companies that demonstrate outstanding safety performance…

14 Jul

CSA recognizes 57 Crowley vessels for safety

Rich MillerIndustry Newssafety, shipping

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) — The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) has recognized 57 Crowley-owned or -managed vessels with its Jones F. Devlin Safety Award, honoring the achievements and hard work of crews that together completed a total of 478 years without a lost time injury. The Jones F. Devlin Safety Award honors the exceptional commitment of people and companies responsible…

06 Jul

ABS develops advanced modeling for EV battery fires

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newssafety, shipping

(HOUSTON) — The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has developed advanced simulation modeling of thermal runaway in lithium-ion battery fires, in a critical step forward in tackling one of maritime’s biggest emergent safety risks. The model, which has now been validated with Texas A&M University research, replicates the thermal runaway profile at the battery cell level, unlocking detailed insight into…

03 Jul

Fincantieri Marine Group names George Moutafis as CEO

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsshipbuilding

(WASHINGTON) — Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG), the U.S. subsidiary of Fincantieri – one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups and a global leader in the construction of highly complex vessels – has announced the appointment of George Moutafis as chief executive officer, effective July 1. This leadership transition comes at a pivotal moment for the U.S. shipbuilding industry, as the…

23 Jun

TOTE Group appoints new CCO, Alaska president

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsshipping

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) — TOTE Group has expanded its leadership team to support the organization’s long-term vision, strategic alignment, and to enhance customer value. Alex Hofeling, currently president of TOTE Maritime Alaska, is being promoted to the new role of chief commercial officer (CCO). With this transition, Bill Crawford, who served as vice president of commercial, is being promoted to president…

19 Jun

Renewable Lubricants partners with Green Marine

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry NewsEnvironment, propulsion

(HARTVILLE, Ohio) — Renewable Lubricants, a manufacturer of bio-based, ultimately biodegradable lubricants for a wide variety of industries and applications, has joined Green Marine as a partner, providing lubrication products designed to help Green Marine participants improve their environmental performance. Green Marine is the voluntary industry initiative to guide the shipping industry toward environmental excellence by adopting concrete, measurable actions…