Honoring Marine Log’s Top Women in Maritime 2021
Written by Heather Ervin
Lydia Benger, Technical Manager for Naval Architecture at Elliott Bay Design Group
Benger is responsible for the supervision, professional development and advocacy of the company’s technical staff. She serves as the first line of technical support when working with regulatory and class authorities and maintains discipline standards and quality of work.
As a professionally licensed engineer, Benger has the opportunity to support Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) projects as lead engineer. Her keen mechanical design skills have provided practical and efficient vessel operations in all types of vessels including passenger vessels, barges, tugs and workboats.
Most recently, she served as project engineer for two new ferry designs. The first being a passenger vessel for The Trust for Governors Island, where she was the lead for mechanical systems, developed vessel requirements and technical specifications, and conducted preliminary research on regulatory issues of the vessel. The second was during the development of a propulsion systems selection study, preliminary design report and contract design of a hybrid-electrical vehicle ferry for Casco Bay Lines.
Internally, she is leading the on-going education and pursuance of alternative propulsion technologies. She coordinated a five-week “Tech Talk” for the EBDG team to discuss fuel cells, methanol, ammonia, and biofuels in marine applications. She has contributed to some of EBDG’s most recent noteworthy ferry projects, including design of the Ollis Class ferries for Staten Island Ferry, design of the Alaska Class Ferry for Alaska Marine Highway System, and design and construction support of the diesel-electric passenger vehicle ferry for Texas Department of Transportation.
ML: What successes are you most proud of in terms of your maritime career?
LB: I’m most proud of my development from entry-level engineer to technical manager at EBDG. Under the tutelage of many sage marine engineers, naval architects, and company leaders, I’ve learned so much about vessel design, vessel operations, people management, and client service.
When we developed the technical manager position in 2019, I was vocal about what this position could be, and when the position description was complete, I realized I had helped to create the position of my dreams. As a technical manager, I get to continue engineering the future of the maritime industry while advocating for her future engineers within EBDG. My tagline or goal, if you will, is to “help others be better at what they do best,” and I think I’m successfully doing that.
Capt. Lynn Korwatch, Executive Director, Marine Exchange of the San Francisco Bay Region
Korwatch graduated from the California Maritime Academy as a member of the first class of women to attend a service academy. After sailing in various capacities as a deck officer, she received her unlimited Master’s license qualifying her to command vessels of any tonnage on any ocean, and in 1988, she was the first woman to command a U.S. commercial vessel.
In 1991, Korwatch was promoted to general manager, marine operations of Matson Navigation Company, where her responsibilities included managing the safe and efficient operation of the 14 vessels owned or operated by Matson in the Pacific Basin trades. While retaining her general manager duties, she also served as acting operations manager at Matson’s Oakland Container Terminal, supervising all facets of the of cargo operations for both Matson and outside customer vessels. At Matson, she was instrumental in creating the vessel’s “Zero Garbage Discharge Program,” the first of its kind in the world and one that significantly exceeded all government regulations.
She has served as chair of the SF Harbor Safety Committee, served on the USCG Merchant Marine Advisory Committee, and is currently a member of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s Seaport Advisory Committee. She is also a member of several other committees and organizations. She was selected by Gov. Jerry Brown to serve on the Office of Spill Response and Prevention Technical Advisory Board.
Korwatch has received numerous honors, awards and recognitions, including being the answer to a “Jeopardy” question on TV. She is the past president of the California Maritime Academy Alumni Association and now serves as treasurer for that organization.
ML: What successes are you most proud of in terms of your maritime career?
LK: I think that I am most proud of being a pioneer in this industry. Clearly being in the first class of women to attend a service academy was not easy, but it introduced me to an industry and career that I truly am grateful to a part of. I was very fortunate in my career to have the support of my shipmates and the support from shoreside personnel, who gave the opportunity to prove my worth. I feel so lucky to be part of an industry that is so critical to the economic well being of our nation and the world.
Capt. Morgan Mooney, Fire Island Ferries Inc.
Mooney has worked in the maritime industry for over 17 years. She started at Fire Island Ferries Inc. as a seasonal, summer employee at age 16 in June 2004. Fire Island Ferries provides ferry service to and from Fire Island, N.Y., and carries approximately 1.1 million passengers a year. Throughout high school and college, Mooney continued to work as a deckhand onboard the passenger ferries to ultimately earn her Master’s license.
She graduated from Boston University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in English education in 2010 and continued working for the company as an extended seasonal employee. She soloed as a captain in July 2011. Mooney became a full-time employee in 2012, gaining year-round experience. Since 2012, her responsibilities have grown to include social media director and insurance manager.
Mooney has been invited to speak at several industry events, including the 2017 MariTrends Conference hosted by the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA), the 2017 Canadian Ferry Association Conference, the 2017 Interferry Conference, and at Marine Log’s virtual FERRIES conference in 2020.
Her advanced experience and business connections have led to her newest position as CEO of CNI Newco LLC in May of 2021. She is also the majority owner of the M/V San Juan Clipper. The San Juan Clipper is a U.S. flagship that provides passenger service from Seattle, Wash., to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. Since becoming the CEO, Mooney has gained knowledge in the local environmental concerns of the Puget Sound, whale watching regulations, and other administration duties.
ML: What successes are you most proud of in terms of your maritime career?
MM: My first greatest success would be obtaining my captain’s license and soloing onboard the M/V Stranger. From a young age, I always wanted to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and be a captain on the passenger ferries for Fire Island Ferries.
Another thing I’m proud of that may not be considered a success but is an unforgettable maritime moment happened in n December 2020. I was asked by my family to captain the Fire Island Belle for my grandfather’s last trip on the Great South Bay. We boarded his flag draped casket onto the vessel with family, friends, long time and former employees, and took him along the various routes we service.
My latest success in the maritime industry is being recruited to become the CEO and owner of the San Juan Clipper. The new position has allowed me to learn more of the business and shipowner aspects of the industry. It has been a challenging and wonderful first season.
