Five companies receive Marine Safety Awards

Award recipients (L to R): Rick Williamson, Manager Marine Personnel/Labor Relations for AMSEA; Morty Bouchard IV, Vice President of Operations/Sales, Bouchard Transportation; Lee Seham, President, American Maritime Safety; Lance Bardo, Program Manager for Patriot Contract Services; Michael Duffy, Port Captain for Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

OCTOBER 28, 2014 — At its 25th Annual Membership Meeting at the Yale Club in New York City last week, American Maritime Safety awarded Maritime Safety Awards to five member companies received  in recognition of their dedication to promoting safe vessel navigation, preserving the marine environment and for their proactive efforts toward achieving safe maritime working practices.

AMS is a non-profit maritime trade association that facilitates the maritime industry’s compliance with international shipping protocols and U.S. Coast Guard regulations. The AMS consortium includes more than 400 vessel owners and operators and is the leading maritime industry association specializing in regulatory compliance in the United States.

Its President and General Counsel, Lee Seham, will be a speaker at Marine Log’s upcoming Ferries Marine Conference & Exhibition being held in Delray Beach, FL, November 11-13. His topic will be Compliance Issues — USCG Alcohol & Drug Regulations.
 
At last week’s AMS awards ceremony, Bouchard Transportation Company, Inc. received the Tug and Barge Safety Award. Morty Bouchard IV, Vice President of Operations/Sales accepted the award, which recognizes the implementation of outstanding compliance programs that serve to enhance crew member efficiency and the safe operation of tug and barge vessels in U.S. coastal waters.

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises received the Passenger Vessel Safety Award. Michael Duffy, Port Captain for Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises accepted the award, which recognizes the implementation of best-practice systems and programs that contribute to the overall safety of passengers and crew members.

General Dynamics/American Overseas Marine Corporation (“AMSEA”) received the Safe Vessel Navigation & Operation Award. Rick Williamson, Manager Marine Personnel/Labor Relations for AMSEA accepted the award, which recognizes the implementation of training and educational programs for crew members that serve to protect the marine environment by reducing marine casualties.

Patriot Contract Services received the Responsible Vessel Carrier Award. Lance Bardo, Program Manager for Patriot Contract services accepted the award, which recognizes the implementation of safety systems and procedures that serve to promote safe vessel navigation and operation.

U.S. Shipping Corporation received the American Maritime Safety Award, which recognizes the implementation of a drug and alcohol awareness program for crew members that perform safety sensitive functions on vessels calling at U.S. ports.

In addition to the awards ceremony, highlights from the meeting included presentations by Dr. Ben Gerson of University Services on worldwide trends in drug use and the fluctuations in the popularity of illicit drugs.

Bill Schaefer, Victim Services Unit Manager for the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, provided guidance to meeting attendees on how to effectively respond to reports of sexual assault.

Lee Seham, President of AMS, discussed recent case law developments in the maritime industry and Kim Xavier of Seham, Seham, Meltz & Petersen, LLC, spoke regarding I-9 compliance in the workplace.

Mr. Patrick Mannion, DAPI Program Manager for the U.S. Coast Guard, provided an update on the USCG’s aggressive plans to enforce its chemical testing regulations.

Chief Jayson Rodriguez of SUNY Maritime College, spoke about the college’s programs and plans for the training vessel, The Empire State.