May 6th – The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is honored to be hosting the United States Coast Guard AMVER and Benkert Awards Ceremony as part of its Safety at Sea Seminar during National Maritime Week. Presenting these distinguished awards is Admiral Linda Fagan(pictured above), Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.
Admiral Fagan became the 27th Commandant of the Coast Guard, where she oversees all the global Coast Guard operations and personnel. Before becoming Commandant, Admiral Fagan was the Vice Commandant and Commander, Pacific Area as well as many other flag positions. Admiral Fagan has served on all seven continents: from the icy landscapes of Antarctica to the heart of Africa, from Tokyo to Geneva with distinction in various operational roles. Some of the Admiral’s other positions included Commander Sector New York, and more than 15 years as a Marine Inspector and sea duty in USCGC POLAR Star. The Admiral has worked with the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization on flag state and port state issues.
Admiral Fagan holds a Bachelor of Marine Science degree from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a Master of Science in Marine Affairs degree from the University of Washington, and a Master in National Resource Strategy degree from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. She has earned numerous personal and team awards during her 37 years of Coast Guard service. Admiral Fagan is the longest serving active-duty Marine Safety Officer and holds the distinction of being the Coast Guard’s first-ever Gold Ancient Trident. Her dedication to service and her notable achievements, including her extensive global experience and academic accomplishments, underscore her commitment to ensuring the safety and security of maritime activities.
NAMEPA is pleased to have Admiral Fagan present for the Seminar and the presentation of the prestigious AMVER and Benkert Awards. The AMVER awards are given yearly for participation in the program, and in recent years have been included in NAMEPA’s annual Safety at Sea Seminar, this year hosted by ABS. Pennants showing the different anniversary colors can be found aboard ships, company board rooms, reception areas and so much more. Requirements for participation in this program are vessels with 128 days on the AMVER plot calendar year and vessels that have continuous participation in the AMVER program before and after their shipyard period. The colors of the pennants include blue, gold, and purple, each with their own significance.
The William M. Benkert Awards are named for Rear Admiral William M. Benkert who served at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington D.C. as Chief of the Office of Marine Environment and Systems. He is remembered as the father of the Coast Guard’s Marine Environmental Protection Program. The Benkert awards are given to companies biennially to recognize and honor the outstanding achievements in marine environment protection in which they have exceeded standard compliance with regulations. Companies eligible for awards are commercial organizations involved in marine transportation, including those who own and operate marine facilities or those engaged in maritime operations.
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NAMEPA’s National Maritime Week Events: Â
National Maritime Week & Safety at Sea Seminar
NAMEPA has announced National Maritime Week to be held in Washington, D.C. from May 21-23rd. During this week of collaboration and celebration of the maritime industry, NAMEPA will be holding its annual Safety at Sea Seminar which also features the presentation of the United States Coast Guard’s AMVER and Benkert Awards. This in-person event will begin at 1200 with a networking lunch followed by the commencement of the program at 1300 and will be hosted at ABS’ Office at 80 M Street.
Regional Gathering – Washington D.C. – Metro
The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), an organization dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and awareness of the maritime industry, announced its next regional gathering and workshop in Washington, D.C., taking place on Thursday, May 23rd, as part of National Maritime Week.
Space is limited for both NAMEPA events, so register today!
