National Maritime Day event focus on Safety at Sea Industry

Maritime Administrator, Paul “Chip” Jaenichen will give the National Maritime Day Address at the "Safety at Sea" National Maritime Day Seminar hosted by North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) at the National Press Club in Washington DC on May 23rd from 2:00pm-6:00pm. The seminar will bring industry and government leaders together to discuss concerns about safety and strategies for meeting them. Immediately following the “Safety at Sea” seminar is the AMVER Awards Dinner where over 150 companies will be recognized for their participation in the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) system. Commandant Paul Zukunft will be present to give the awards.  AMVER is a USCG managed search and rescue program in which merchant ships make themselves available for maritime emergency response on a volunteer basis. The Awards Dinner will begin at 6:00pm at the National Press Club.

NAMEPA’s “Safety at Sea” seminar explores industry concerns in today’s times and what shipowners and others are doing to safeguard lives, the environment, and assets. RADM Paul Thomas of the USCG will be presenting regulatory “hot topics”, with shipowners’ concerns being addressed by the Chamber of Shipping’s Kathy Metcalf.  Jon Waldron of Blank Rome will discuss the legal perspective today, with Denise McCafferty of RCCL handling what shipowners are doing to safeguard lives, the environment and assets.

Cynthia Hudson of Hudson Marine will give attendees an overview of cybersecurity threats and remedies, with the Reverend Marsh Drege of the North American Maritime Ministry Association offering an update on seafarer welfare and Captain Jack Hearn of the American Professional Mariners Association sharing the view from the bridge- what keeps mariners awake at night.  The seminar will conclude with the National Maritime Address by Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen.

Each year, on May 22nd, our country celebrates National Maritime Day recognizing the role the maritime industry plays economically and globally. We will reflect the gratitude that we have for the maritime industry and the benefits it brings to the country by focusing on keeping the industry safe while we “Save Our Seas”. The evening celebrates merchant ships that volunteer to be available for maritime emergency response through the AMVER system. This program demonstrates the dedication and commitment the maritime industry including regulators, shipowners and seafarers has to safety at sea; recipients will be thanked personally by the Commandant for their service.

NAMEPA’s “Safety at Sea” seminar and AMVER Awards Dinner sponsors are: the American Club, American Salvage Association, Blank Rome, Chamber of Shipping of America, Chartworld, Clay Maitland, Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation, Dorian LPG, Future Care, Morgan Marketing & Communications, Mystic Aquarium, Navios Maritime Acquisitions, and Scorpio.

NAMEPA’s mission statement is: “Save Our Seas” is the mission of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) which is an independent, marine industry-led entity that engages industry, regulators, environmental groups, educators and the public by promoting sound environmental practices. NAMEPA is a non-profit organization committed to preserving the marine environment through educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean resources.