Maritime
26th Annual
International
Maritime Hall of
Fame held on
May 8, 2019 at
The Grand Hyatt
New York – New
York City
T
he Maritime Association of the Port of New York/New
Jersey held its 26th Annual International Maritime Hall
of Fame awards dinner on May 8, 2019 at the Grand
Hyatt Hotel in New York City.
The International Maritime Hall of Fame awards
had their beginning in 1993 when the Maritime
Association of the Port of New York/New Jersey created them
to honor, every year, a group of maritime visionaries who best
exemplified the qualities of futuristic thinking guiding maritime
transportation into the years ahead.
Since then, a broad cohort of leading lights of the industry have
been inducted into the Hall of Fame. They include figures from
the worlds of container shipping, tanker and dry bulk shipping,
terminal operations, ocean transportation intermediaries,
stevedores, tug and barge operators, major railroads, in addition
to those who represent both employers and labor in the maritime
sphere. Funds raised for the awards promote educational services
within the industry.
The most recent inductions into the International Maritime Hall of
Fame celebrated the achievements of five illustrious leaders of the
industry.
Harold J. Daggett, International President, International
Longshoremen’s Association, AFL-CIO was honored for his
exceptional leadership of the growth and stability of the maritime
industry, of labor productivity, of keeping cargo moving, of
negotiations and contract agreements with employers.
George Economou, Founder, Chairman and CEO, of Dry Ships Inc.
was recognized for being a global leader in maritime transportation
and all related business activities; in high quality customer relations,
and in the growth and stability of his highly diversified international
fleet. His award was accepted by his son, Phillipos.
John F. Reinhart, CEO and Executive Director, Virginia Ports, was
honored for his leadership of the economic achievements and
financial success of Virginia Ports, his work there having maximized
facility usage at one of the United States leading seaports.
Rodolphe Saade, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group S.A. was
recognized as a pre-eminent figure in the international maritime
16
Joe Hughes, Chairman and CEO of the
American Club, Master of Ceremo-
nies for the Awards Dinner (current
Director and former President of the
Maritime Association of the Port of
NY/NJ)
Credit: nymaritime.org/
community. Under his leadership, CMA CGM had grown its
business over the years in truly exponential terms.
Last but not least, Mr. Richard S. (Rich) Weeks, President and CEO
of Weeks Marine, Inc., was honored as a leader in all facets of marine
construction. Under his stewardship Weeks Marine had grown its
impressive market footprint in dredging, construction and, more
recently, the development of environmental-friendly offshore
sources of power.
The May 8 event attracted the largest number of attendees –
approximately 450 – in recent years. Its Master of Ceremonies was
Joe Hughes, Chairman and CEO of the American P&I Club, a current
Director (and former President) of the Maritime Association of the
Port of New York/New Jersey. https://nymaritime.org/
Credit: nymaritime.org/
Honorees of the 2019 International Maritime Hall of Fame Awards,
May 8, 2019 (above from left to right) Harold J. Daggett (ILA, AFL-CIO),
Rodolphe Saade (CMA CGM), Richard S. Weeks (Weeks Marine, Inc.),
John F. Reinhart (Virginia Port Authority) and Phillippos Economou (Dry
Ships, Inc.) (accepting award on behalf of his father, George Economou)