Capt. George Quick Honored With Achievement Award

Captain George A. Quick, who represents MM&P in numerous national and international forums and serves as vice president of the union’s Pilot Membership Group, was honored on April 11 with an award for lifetime achievement by members of the Marine Society of the City of New York.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Transportation. He also graduated from the University of Baltimore Law School with a Juris Doctor Degree, is admitted to the practice of law in Maryland and is a proctor member of the Maritime Law Association.

After sea service as a deck officer on passenger and cargo ships he entered the training program of the Association of Maryland Pilots. He was licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as master and first class pilot of ships of any gross tonnage and licensed by the State of Maryland as a senior pilot of ships of any draft.

He is currently Vice President of the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots and heads the Pilot Membership Group representing pilots throughout the United States.

In the past he has served as: President of the Association of Maryland Pilots, President of the Baltimore Maritime Exchange, Vice President for the North Atlantic Region of the American Pilot Association, representing Pilot Associations in the eleven States on the North Atlantic coast of the United States and Representative of the International Maritime Pilot Association (IMPA) to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the London based United Nations Organization with the responsibility for the regulation of International shipping. 

Also honored during the course of the evening were members of the Johnsen family, leaders for generations of MM&P-contracted International Shipholding Corp. and Waterman/Central Gulf Lines.

Erik F. Johnsen, who accepted the award on behalf of the family, noted the company’s history of strong support for the American Merchant Marine. “It’s getting harder and harder, but we have never forsaken the U.S. flag,” he said.

International Shipholding Corporation dates back to 1947 when it was founded as Central Gulf Steamship Corporation by the late Niels F. Johnsen and his sons, Niels W. Johnsen and Erik F. Johnsen. Central Gulf Steamship Corporation purchased its first vessel, the war built Liberty Ship SS Horatio Allen, which was later renamed Green Wave. Shortly thereafter, Central Gulf purchased its second vessel, the SS Ouachita Victory which was renamed SS Green Valley. The company added more than 51 vessels of varied types that traded throughout world.

Erik F. Johnsen co-founded Central Gulf in 1947 and he still serves as the President of Central Gulf Lines Inc. He served as Chief Executive Officer of International Shipholding Corp. from 2003 to April 30, 2007 and was the President and Chief Operating Officer of International Shipholding Corp. from 1979 to April 2003. Until April 1997, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of each of International Shipholding Corp.'s principal subsidiaries, except Waterman, for which he served as Chairman of the Executive Committee. He served as a Director of Louisiana Banc One Corporation (formerly First Commerce Corp.) from 1983. Mr. Johnsen served as a Director of International Shipholding Corp., from 1978 to April 25, 2012.

The Marine Society of the City of New York gave more than $85,000 in grants and scholarships to the aspiring deck and engineering cadets during the course of the dinner, many of whom were in attendance.