Fall Meeting of Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) Attended by Over 80 Maritime Professiona

Published Nov 16, 2006 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) Co-Chairmen, Captain Phil Shullo and Captain Larry Wade at the helm of SOCP’s fall meeting, welcomed over 80 attendees. The meeting was hosted by the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) and featured Rear Admiral Brian M. Salerno, USCG Director, Inspection and Compliance, as the keynote speaker. Other speakers included Sean T. Connaughton, Maritime Administrator and RADM Tom Gilmour, President of ABS, Americas Division and Robert Cowen, Venable LLP. Streamed video of the meeting’s proceedings can be viewed at http://www.tvworldwide.com/events/socp/0611/ or at SOCP’s website, www.socp.org.

Topics covered included Current Maritime Initiatives, Outlook for the Maritime Industry and the Role of the Maritime Administration, and Classification Societies Role in Safe Operation of Ships Worldwide. Various panel discussions were initiated regarding topics such as legislative and regulatory activities within the maritime industry, the Committee on the Maritime Transportation System, Lean Six Sigma member results, IMO/USCG Safe Manning Regulations, Transportation Workers Identity Card, STCW and the USCG NMC/REC Reengineering proposal.

The Maritime Administration’s James J. Zok, Associate Administrator for Financial Approvals and Cargo Preference, led panelists Captain Dave Kranking, Captain Mark O’Malley and Mr. Joe Meyers of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in discussions regarding Coast Guard Programs and Direction.

Mr. Bruce Carlton, Associate Administrator for Policy and International Trade moderated another maritime panel. Panelists Joseph Cox, Chamber of Shipping of America, Jim Patti, MIRAID, and Helen Brohl, Maritime Administration, Committee on the Maritime Transportation System, discussed current and future issues regarding the maritime industry and maritime transportation systems.

The day culminated with dinner and a tour of MITAGS Bridge Simulator. Co-Chairmen, Captain Wade and Captain Shullo thanked everyone for their participation in making the meeting a tremendous success.