NAMEPA’s 5th Anniversary Observed with Environmental Intelligence in Maritime Conference and Awards Dinner

Clay Maitland, Founding Chairman of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), announced NAMEPA’s Environmental Intelligence in Maritime Conference, which will feature “Greening the Marine Transportation System”, “The Arctic”, “Safety at Sea” and “Corporate Risk Management”. The conference will be followed by NAMEPA’s 2012 Marine Environment Protection Awardshonoring Maersk, NOAA, SUNY Maritime College, and the American Salvage Association (ASA). The events will be held at Chelsea Piers’ The Lighthouse in New York.

“It is both hard to believe that NAMEPA is already five years old, and equally difficult to remember a time when it was not around to be the potent force in marine environment protection that it has become”, observed Mr. Maitland. “In such a short time, the industry has joined together in NAMEPA to “Save our Seas”, and produced remarkable educational products, alliances, activities and industry gatherings”.

The Environmental Intelligence in Maritime Conference will feature such internationally recognized maritime figures as Commandant Robert Papp, USCG; Clay Maitland; VADM Peter Neffenger, USCG; Dr. Steven Coan, Sea Research Foundation; Captain Rob Lorigan, Overseas Shipholding Group; Jeanne Grasso, Blank Rome; Ole Chr. Schroder, Torm; Ed Waryas, Lloyd’s Register; Karen Kokabi, Blueship/MES; Craig Carter, Thordon Bearings; George Tsavliris, Tsavliris Salvage and INTERMEPA; Alice Rogoff, Alaska Dispatch; Dave Westerholm, NOAA;VADM Brian Salerno, USCG (Ret.); Captain Cordon Loebl, USCG; Rich Pruitt, Royal Caribbean Lines; Mike Powell, Open Ocean; Dr. Robin Pitblado, DNV; RADM Duncan Smith, USCGR (Ret.); Nicky Pappadakis, HELMEPA/INTERCARGO; Jeff Pribor, GenMar; Philip Shapiro, Liberty Maritime; Gene Seroka, APL Americas; Lars Gustafson, Marsh; John Reinhart, Maersk; and RADM Wendi Carpenter, SUNY Maritime College.

The Conference will be followed by a NAMEPA Annual General Meeting, then an Awards Reception and Dinner. Honorees are being recognized for their efforts to further the goal to “Save our Seas”. All honorees underwent a rigorous application and vetting process which was conducted under the guidance of Captain Rob Lorigan of Overseas Shipholding Group. Accepting their 2012 NAMEPA Marine Environment Protection Awards will be John Reinhart for Maersk, Dave Westerholm for NOAA, RADM Wendi Carpenter for SUNY Maritime College, and Tim Beaver for the American Salvage Association.

The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) was officially launched in 2007. It is a maritime industry-led initiative which engages maritime businesses, government and the public to “Save our Seas” by promoting sound environmental practices. NAMEPA operates as a nongovernmental organization committed to preserving the marine environment through educating seafarers, port communities and students about the need, and strategies, for protecting this important global resource.”For more information, go to www.namepa.net.