Marine Exchange of Southern California Elects New Board Members

Published Feb 22, 2007 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

The Marine Exchange of Southern California has elected new members to serve on its board of directors, a 15-member board that consists of leaders representing vessel owners and operators; federal, state and local government agencies; the Los Angeles and Long Beach port authorities; harbor pilot organizations; steamship agencies and other related interests. Members of note include:

• Capt. Subir Bector, area operations general manager of Chevron Shipping, will represent tanker operators as he replaces Matt Brown, also from Chevron who resigned from the board due to work transfer to South Africa. Bector sailed as a master mariner for 18 years on tankers before coming ashore several years ago. In the last seven years at Chevron, he has served in several positions, including senior voyage manager, ship chartering, marine transportation, and most recently as area manager for the Southwest Region.

• J. Christopher Lytle, managing director at the Port of Long Beach, will represent his port as he replaces Jill Morgan who left the Port of Long Beach for a position with a local engineering firm. Lytle oversees the port’s Trade Relations and Operations Bureau and is responsible for managing the communications, trade relations, security, and maintenance divisions. Prior to joining the port in August 2006, Lytle was vice president of CMA CGM (America) and held executive positions at P&O Ports North America, Sea-Land Services, Inc., and APM (Maersk) Terminals.

• Capt. Jim Morgan, Port of Los Angeles pilot service manager, who already represents Los Angeles Pilot Service as a board member, was elected to fill Jill Morgan’s vacated board secretary position. Morgan began his sea-going career in 1976 as a third officer and attaining the rank of Master as he sailed at sea and worked ashore for ARCO for 23 years. Morgan joined the Port of Los Angeles in 1999 as the manager of the port pilots, where he is responsible for the day-to-day piloting operations of more than 5,500 ship moves each year.

The other 2006-2007 officers include Board Chairman John Hanlin, managing director for Marsh Risk and Insurance Services, who represents the marine insurance industry; President Capt. Ghalib Tikari, general manager, Marian Shipping Corp., representing the breakbulk operators; Vice President Phillip Wright, vice president West Coast, Zim Container Line, who represents containership operators and Board Treasurer Lonnie Tang, Port of Los Angeles director of maritime services, representing the Port of Los Angeles.

The other board directors are Pat Bixby, Marine Terminals Corp. vice president, contracts and sales, representing the terminal operators; Robert A. Clark, II, American President Lines director of labor operations, representing containership operators; G. Michael Hubbard, General Steamship Corp. assistant vice president, representing steamship agents; Capt. Tom Jacobsen, president of Jacobsen Pilot Service, representing Long Beach pilots; Capt. Ray Lyman, Catalina Channel Express vice president, representing local vessel operators; Becky Mannino, SSA Terminals vice president of So. Calif. Container operations, representing terminal operators; J. Douglas Post, an attorney-at-law, who represents maritime law; and David Selga, Foss Maritime Co. regional director, who represents tug/barge operators.

Non-voting board appointees are CPA Pei Pei Wang, partner, Windes & McClaughry; USCG Board Liaison Capt. Paul Wiedenhoeft, Commander (COTP), USCG Sector LA-LB; Executive Director, Ex-Officio, Capt. Manny Aschemeyer, executive director, Marine Exchange of So. Calif.; Recording Secretary Capt. R. B. McKenna, dep. exec. director, Marine Exchange of So. Calif.; and Board Facilitator Lorraine McKinney, office manager, Marine Exchange of So. Calif.

Established in 1923, the Marine Exchange is the nonprofit trade organization serving as Southern California’s maritime information clearinghouse. It operates the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) for LA/LB Harbor in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, the State of Calif., and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Marine Exchange also reports vessel traffic information for the ports of Port Hueneme and San Diego and the El Segundo moorings.

In addition to facilitating the safe passage of all vessels in its area of responsibility (AOR), the VTS is involved with enhancing port security and improving maritime domain awareness for the U.S. Coast Guard. For additional information, contact Capt. Manny Aschemeyer, (310) 519-3127, or visit http://www.mxsocal.org.