The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) — Rear Adm. John P. Nadeau, U.S Coast Guard assistant commandant for prevention policy, presented the Rear Adm. Richard E. Bennis Facility of the Year Award for Excellence in Maritime Security to Lucy Woodstock Marine Terminal in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday.
This biennial award recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions in implementation of the Maritime Transportation Security Act.
The Coast Guard regulates the Lucy Woodstock Marine Terminal, which is located along the Lower Mississippi River just north of Mud Island. Lemm Corp. operates the terminal.
“Thank you for your dedication toward excellence in maritime security. You have gone above and beyond what is expected and you are an excellent role model for other facilities,” said Nadeau.
“The U.S. Coast Guard is so proud to have such a strong partnership with Lucy Woodstock and is happy to see their efforts recognized with this award,” said Capt. Roxanne Tamez, commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River.
The Coast Guard selected Lucy Woodstock Marine Terminal for the award based on how the organization leads, develops, promotes and engages in maritime partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies; how the organization instills a culture of security with employees; how the organization develops, manages, and implements maritime security plans, policies and procedures; and the innovation, initiative and integration of physical security measures.
Accepting the award on behalf of Lucy Woodstock Marine Terminal was facility manager Joy Terral. Terral has served as a vice chair of the Memphis Area Maritime Security Committee since 2015.
“We are humbled by this honor and we will continue to strive and uphold a standard of excellence in this industry which we call our own,” Terral said.
The award is named for the late Rear Adm. Richard E. Bennis, who began his career in 1972 and went on to serve as the captain of the ports of Charleston, S.C., and Hampton Roads, Va. While serving as captain of the port of New York on Sept. 11, 2001, Bennis organized the waterborne evacuation of nearly 500,000 people from Lower Manhattan after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. He honorably served in the Coast Guard for 30 years until his retirement in 2002.