The following is the text of a press release issued by the North American Marine Environment Protection Association:
(WASHINGTON) — Clay Maitland, Founding Chairman of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association and Convener of the Industry Advisory Council of the North American Maritime Ministry Association, announced today that this year’s National Maritime Day Seminar will focus on the marine environment and the seafarer.
Called “Environmental Intelligence in Shipping and the Seafarer”, the event will be held at the National Press Club in Washington DC on Tuesday, May 18th beginning at 2:00. The seminar will be followed immediately by the presentation of the AMVER Awards for 2009.
“In this seminar, we will be covering the effectiveness of collaboration in dealing with the marine environment, an example of which is being played out today in the Gulf,” observed Mr. Maitland. “In the IMO’s “Year of the Seafarer”, we shall also be exploring issues pertaining to our most valuable asset—the seafarers who keep our industry going.”
The Seminar is being chaired by RADM Duncan Smith (Retired), a Partner at Blank Rome and moderated by RADM Brian Salerno, Deputy Commandant for Operations, United States Coast Guard. The panelists for the marine environment include Dave Westerholm, Director of OR&R for NOAA; Jason Patlis, President & CEO for National Marine Sanctuary Foundation; and Captain Anuj Chopra, President of Anglo-Eastern (Houston) LLC. The Seafarer panel will feature Joe Cox, President & CEO of the Chamber of Shipping of America; Fr. Sinclair Oubre, Director of the Apostleship of the Sea-Beaumont (TX); George Tricker, Vice President of Contracts for Seafarers International Union of North America; and Philip Shapiro, President & CEO for Liberty Maritime Corporation.
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) has been invited to share what Congress wants from the maritime industry.
The seminar will be followed immediately by the presentation of the AMVER Awards for 2009 by VADM David Pekoske, Vice Commandant of the USCG.
The Seminar is being sponsored by the American Salvage Association, Blank Rome LLP/LLC, The Chamber of Shipping of America, Masters Mated & Pilots, Sea Research Foundation and the Seafarers International Union of North America. The AMVER Awards are being sponsored by Blank Rome LLP/LLC, IHS Fairplay, INMARSAT, and Lockheed Martin.
There is no charge for attending. To register, please contact executivedirector@namepa.net or call +203 255 4686.
About NAMEPA
The North American Marine Environment Protection Association is an industry-led initiative to help educate seafarers, port communities and students on the need for, and strategies for, protecting the marine environment through industry events, port outreach, marine debris information, and a children’s drawing contest on the environment. Please go to www.namepa.net.
About NAMMA
The North American Maritime Ministry Association is the umbrella organizations for port chaplains and centers throughout North America. It serves its members, who minister to seafarers by providing pastoral, transportation, and advocacy services, acting as a human resources department for shipping companies. Please go to www.namma.org.
The North American Maritime Ministry Association is the umbrella organizations for port chaplains and centers throughout North America. It serves its members, who minister to seafarers by providing pastoral, transportation, and advocacy services, acting as a human resources department for shipping companies. Please go to www.namma.org.
About AMVER
Amver, sponsored by the United States Coast Guard, is a unique, computer-based, and voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea. With Amver, rescue coordinators can identify participating ships in the area of distress and divert the best-suited ship or ships to respond. Amver’s mission is to quickly provide search and rescue authorities, on demand, accurate information on the positions and characteristics of vessels near a reported distress.
More information about AMVER is available at www.amver.com
More information about AMVER is available at www.amver.com
