The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2009 40th Annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) will be presented to Donald Kurz, President and CEO of Keystone Shipping Co., headquartered in Philadelphia, and to Ronald Widdows, Group President and CEO of NOL (Neptune Orient Lines) of Singapore, parent company of American President Lines (APL). A Special AOTOS Award will also be presented to the United States Coast Guard.
The maritime industry's most prestigious honors will be awarded at a gala industry dinner and dance to be held at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, New York City, on November 13, 2009. Richard Hughes, Chairman of the USS AOTOS Committee and President of the International Longshoremen's Association, AFL-CIO, made the announcement on the occasion of the USS Annual meeting.
All proceeds from the AOTOS event benefit USS community services abroad for the U.S. merchant marine and those of other free world countries. The recipients will share the evening with a group of American seafarers who will be honored for specific acts of bravery at sea, including the crews of both the Maersk Alabama and Liberty Sun for their actions in the face of piracy at sea.
Donald Kurz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Shipping Co. and Chairman of Chas. Kurz & Co., Inc., began his maritime career as a tanker broker in London in 1973. Since joining Keystone in 1974, the company has transformed from a traditional tanker owner/operator to the operator of the diversified fleet portfolio that exists today. Under Kurz's leadership, Keystone established a major presence in the liquid and dry bulk storage and pipeline business in the Port of Los Angeles. Together with partners British Petroleum and OSG, Mr. Kurz helped to create the Alaska Tanker Company, and he has led the diversification of Keystone's operating fleet.
Keystone Shipping and the Kurz Group of Companies have participated in U.S. maritime transportation services for more than 100 years, when its founder, Charles Kurz, began working in the ship agency business and with the transportation and storage of salt. Today, Keystone operates six fleets of vessels, including tankers, dry bulk carriers, tug barges, roll on-roll off and special purpose military vessels.
Donald Kurz is the recipient of more than a dozen awards involving shipping and various philanthropic endeavors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Franklin & Marshall College and a Master of Business in Finance from New York University.
Ron Widdows joined the NOL Board in July 2008 upon being appointed Group President and Chief Executive Officer. Widdows from 2003 was CEO of NOL's container shipping business, APL. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President, Global Operations and Network where he was responsible for APL's day-to-day operations including the line-haul and feeder fleets, global equipment management, procurement, terminals and alliance relationships.
He has tracked the container shipping industry from port-to-port services to today's end-to-end supply chain management. His innovative style has led to the introduction of linertrains and Stack Train services, post-Panamax ships and as a leader in the evolution of carrier alliances that have created worldwide service networks. He has also been a leading voice on public policy issues and an advocate on the importance of improved transportation infrastructure.
Widdows has worked in the shipping industry over four decades and joined APL in 1980. He has held senior executive roles in Asia, the United States and Canada. Widdows is Chairman of the World Shipping Council and of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement and Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement research and discussion groups. He is on the Advisory Boards of the International Transport Forum and the US Merchant Marine Academy.
For AOTOS 2009, Michael Sacco, President of the Seafarers International Union, is Dinner Chairman. S. Anthony Naccarato of Crowley Maritime Corporation and Samuel B. Nemirow will be serving as National Committee Co-Chairmen. Other committee members and chairmanships will be announced shortly.
USS continues to provide community services for the U.S. Merchant Marine, the American Armed Forces, and seafarers of the world. USS, a non-profit agency established in 1942, operates centers in eight foreign ports in Europe, Asia, and Africa and in the Indian Ocean, and also provides seagoing libraries to American vessels through its affiliate, the American Merchant Marine Library Association.
