Honoring Marine Log’s Top Women in Maritime 2021
Written by Heather Ervin
Laura Langh-Lagerlof, Managing Director and Co-Owner of Langh Group Oy Ab
Langh-Lagerlöf has a master’s degree in economics and business administration from Åbo Akademi University and she has since an early age been involved in the family business. Due in large part to her excellent knowledge in the maritime industry and the good business sense, the Langh companies has developed successfully during the past years. Langh Tech has grown to be a scrubber and ballast water management system maker and the ship owning company Langh Ship fleet has doubled.
ML: What successes are you most proud of in terms of your maritime career?
LLL: I’m probably most proud of how I managed to combine family life and business when our kids were smaller. Together with my husband, we have four boys, now aged 8, 10, 12 and 14. When the kids were babies, I practically didn’t have a single day maternity leave. I had them with me as babies wherever I traveled for ship visits, meetings and exhibitions. Sometimes with a babysitter but many times also my own dad as babysitter. Numerous times I have also taken part in meetings with a baby sleeping in my arms.
Capt. Lauren Lamm, Autonomous Vessel Test Lead, Sea Machines Robotics
As the “voice of the customer” for Sea Machines Robotics, Captain Lauren Lamm holds the position of autonomous vessel test lead, which gives her responsibility for directing all testing activities for the company’s autonomous-command and -control technology. From her station in Boston, Lamm remotely commands the company’s fleet of autonomous test vessels to ensure they perform as expected on the water, providing real-world feedback from a mariner’s perspective to the development team. In this role, she is also responsible for giving live technology demonstrations not only to Sea Machines customers, but also to those in the industry to help educate and raise awareness about emerging marine technologies. With more than 12 years’ experience in the industry, Lamm holds a master unlimited tonnage/oceans license and graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a bachelor’s degree in marine transportation and an MS in maritime business management.
When not helping to lead revolutionary change in the marine/maritime industries with emerging vessel technologies, Lamm volunteers as founder and co-president of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) USA’s New England Chapter. Lamm races, volunteers and fundraises for other non-profits, including running for Tedy’s Team (supporting stroke awareness) and cycling for the Pan-Mass Challenge (benefitting Dana-Farber Cancer Institute).
ML: What successes are you most proud of in terms of your maritime career?
LL: I am most proud to use my on-water commercial maritime experience to help develop technology that is advancing our industry and helping mariners do their jobs more safely and productively.
Lesley Swearingen, Marine Surveyor at American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
Swearingen has been a marine surveyor for 15 years with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). She has exceptional knowledge of how to conduct surveys and manage survey teams, especially in the areas of machinery, materials, equipment and safety systems of ships. Most recently, she used her engineering knowledge and management skills to significantly improve technical procedures at ABS, eliminating wasted time and driving up training results.
Building upon an already successful career at ABS, she has earned another promotion and will move from operations management into the Corporate Chief Surveyor’s office at the end of 2021.
Swearingen has a Bachelor of Science degree in marine engineering and shipyard management from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. She also earned a Master of Science degree in integrated supply chain management from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She is a retired U.S. Naval Reserve officer.
ML: What successes are you most proud of in terms of your maritime career?
LS: I like the variety of work and the different challenges from day to day. Every day is different in the field and office. Due to the pandemic over the last two years, I’ve been part of the leadership team working to support remote surveys and audits for ABS service suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and material manufacturers. Remote surveys represent a significant shift in our business, which demands sharpening your skill sets so that we can transition and support our clients in new ways. I am very proud of the work we are doing right now.
