New expert hire reflects that traveler safety is at the forefront for the cruise line.
Windstar Cruises has announced that they are welcoming seafaring safety specialist Michael Inman as the newest member of the boutique cruise line’s highly accredited leadership team.
Bringing with him a diverse spectrum of experience from both the U.S. Coast Guard and the cruise industry, Inman will report directly to Windstar President John Delaney and work alongside fleet and technical operations officials to further maintain and enhance the luxury line’s high standards for safety and traveler welfare.
Inman’s distinguished career with the U.S. Coast Guard involved leading complex operations across drastically different geographic areas including the Caribbean Sea, Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and North Pacific Ocean. His day-to-day work life involved commanding multiple Coast Guard vessels and their crews, overseeing emergency search and rescue missions and spearheading intense international law enforcement efforts including counter drug, human smuggling and mass migration. He also helped plan and expand Coast Guard operations in the Arctic, influencing national level policy and decisions.
Inman’s in-depth knowledge of maritime operations in Alaska will continue to provide Windstar with significant advantages for any upcoming Alaskan itineraries, which begin in May 2018. Having served as the Captain of the Port for Southeast Alaska, Sector Juneau – an area known for its limited port facilities while remaining a number one cruise ship destination with over 1 million passengers visiting the region yearly – Inman oversaw more than 12,000 miles of coastline and was responsible for all marine safety, law enforcement matters, environmental protection policies, aids to navigations, and national security issues.
Most recently, Inman worked for Holland America Group for five-and-a-half years, focusing on safety, occupational safety and environmental issues for a fleet of more than 30 cruise ships. Inman also led the marine safety investigation program while at the cruise line and played a key role in supervising emergency response, maritime regulatory audits, environmental compliance and safety management systems.
Educated at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a Master of Science in Telecommunications Systems Management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Inman is also an associate fellow of The Nautical Institute and a board member for both the Alaska Maritime Prevention and Response Network and The Puget Sound Maritime Historic Society and Youth Maritime Training Association.
Inman joins the 130 employees on the Windstar corporate team, based at the Seattle headquarters for the six-ship fleet, which offers more than 300 cruises annually sailing to 170 ports worldwide.