Who’s Who: Maritime Movements for March/April 2024

WORK BOAT WORLD:

Dennis Tetzlaff will take over as the new Chief Operating Officer Fleet of Stena Line in addition to becoming part of the group’s management team.

Tetzlaff worked in various professions within the shipping and cruise industry over the past two decades. Most recently, he comes from TUI Cruises, where he served as the Vice President Fleet Operations and Newbuild.

Tetzlaff has a degree in nautical science and maritime transport from the University of Applied Sciences in Emden/Leer, Germany. His career at sea already started at age 20, when he began working as a deck cadet on a containership in the Caribbean.

After finishing his studies, Tetzlaff went back to working on containerships, before joining German cruise line AIDA Cruises, where he worked his way up from second officer to first captain. From AIDA, he transferred to TUI Cruises, where he worked as the Senior Head of Nautical Operations and Director Nautical Fleet and Health, before becoming Vice President Fleet Operations and Newbuild.

The Austal USA Board of Directors has appointed Michelle Kruger President of Austal USA.

Kruger has been Interim President since July 2023 and now assumes the permanent role immediately.

Kruger joined Austal USA in 2022 as Vice President of Global Services and Support, responsible for global post-delivery vessel repair and warranty services. She successfully implemented a number of business strategies, developed key government and commercial business partnerships, and overseen the delivery of projects including the opening of Austal USA’s new San Diego waterfront facility and the delivery of a 9,000-tonne capacity dry dock.

Kruger is a qualified marine engineer with more than 25 years of maritime industry experience in new construction, repair and maintenance operations. She has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, was commissioned into the US Navy reserves in 1987, and earned a Master’s Degree in Marine Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

She has previously held roles as VP of Operations at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works delivering DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers for the US Navy; Director of Repair Administration, LCS Program Management and VP New Construction Planning at General Dynamics NASSCO; and Electric Boat working on the Virginia-class submarine program.

The European Marine Board (EMB), an association of marine research organisations from various countries throughout Europe, has elected Dr Fiona Grant as its new chair.

Dr Grant has represented the Marine Institute of Ireland at the EMB since 2014, and has served as EMB Vice-Chair since 2020.

Dr Grant, who has a background in marine geology and geophysics, is the National Contact Point and National Delegate for Cluster 6 projects (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment) under Horizon Europe, and is the national expert for the Mission to Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030.

Dr Grant replaces the outgoing EMB chair, Dr Gilles Lericolais, who served for five years.

Lars Ljoen, currently Chief Operations Officer for Carnival Corporation‘s flagship Carnival Cruise Line brand, will be promoted to Chief Maritime Officer of Carnival Corporation, overseeing all aspects of maritime operations for the corporation and its portfolio of cruise lines.

Ljoen will also be responsible for strategic destination development and will oversee management of the company’s owned and operated ports.

A 25-year cruise industry veteran, Ljoen has held senior-level sea command and shore management roles. As Chief Operations Officer for Carnival Cruise Line, he oversees all aspects of Carnival’s marine operations, including nautical and technical operations, environmental compliance, and safety protocols. He also leads port operations, guest operations, food and beverage services, onboard revenue, entertainment, and crew and travel operations.

Prior to joining Carnival Cruise Line, Ljoen served with Carnival Corporation’s Costa Group since 2015, initially as senior vice president and then promoted to executive vice president and managing director in 2016. At Costa Group, which at the time included Costa Cruises and AIDA, Ljoen was responsible for Carnival Maritime, the marine service unit of the group, as well as fleet governance, marine projects, and continuous improvement.

Previously Ljoen headed business strategy development for Ceres Marine Terminals (NYK Ports) and was director of marine operations at Royal Caribbean Cruises. He began his career on supply vessels and shuttle tankers in the North Sea offshore industry.

Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) has appointed Rabindra Sah as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

Sah has more than 30 years of experience in providing engineering services using digital technologies and related solutions.

Prior to joining IRS, he was Chief Engineer – Strategic Projects, Global Practices with Tata Technologies as well as Tata Motors.

Sah holds a B. Tech (Mechanical) from National Institute of Technology Patna, M. Tech (Data Science and Engineering) from BITS Pilani, and presently, he is pursuing his PhD in Autonomous Vehicle from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham-Bangalore.

Brookes Bell, a technical and scientific consultancy for the marine and energy sectors, has recruited Dhaneshwar Nath as a Managing Marine Engineer in its Shanghai office.

Having graduated from Birla Institute of Technology and Science in 2005 with a degree in Marine Engineering, Nath commenced his career at Anglo-Eastern where he worked his way up to become Chief Engineer. His tenure at Anglo-Eastern culminated in his appointment as Vessel Manager, based in Hong Kong.

During his tenure at Anglo-Eastern, he was responsible for handling geared bulk carriers, creating drydock specifications, and overseeing major vessel drydocking and retrofit operations, including engines and ballast water systems.

He has also built up extensive experience of contact damage and damage assessment, allowing him to assist H&M underwriters, P&I clubs, charterers, and maritime law professionals with claims and disputes.

Brookes Bell has also expanded its naval architecture team in Glasgow with the appointment of Dr Kaan Ilter.

With more than 12 years’ experience in the maritime sector, Ilter has worked at shipyards and consultancies in Turkey as a Senior Structural Design and Analysis Engineer. In 2022, he joined the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow where he undertook fundamental research in hydrodynamics.

Ilter is a member of the Turkish Chamber of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, as well as The Royal Institution of Naval Architects. Having already gained an MSc, in 2023, he earned his PhD in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Istanbul Technical University.

He is also an accomplished researcher and author, having published several papers on vessel design and architecture, including autonomous vessels.

Svitzer Europe has appointed Sara Gerdner Kalle as its new Chief Commercial Officer.

Prior to joining Svitzer Europe, Gerdner Kalle served as the head of the eCommerce Logistics team at Maersk APAC. Her extensive experience includes leadership roles at Singapore Post, DB Schenker, and H&M.

Svitzer Australia has meanwhile designated Veronica Jensen as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for the Australia/PNG region.

Jensen has had commercial leadership experience across a range of industry sectors including industrial consumables, engineering solutions, the pharmaceutical industry, and in shipping with more than 11 years’ previous experience with Maersk.

Jensen started in the role in March 2024 and is based out of Svitzer Australia’s Sydney head office.

Americraft Marine, one of the maritime subsidiaries of the Libra Group that owns and operates a Jones Act shipbuilding facility in Palatka, Florida, has appointed Peter Fetten as Chairman of Americraft.

Fetten’s experience includes design, construction, and ship management. Prior to this he held senior roles at Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruise, as well as Blohm and Voss where he worked for 15 years. He is also the initiator/developer of Grand Bahamas (Freeport) Shipyard.

Fetten holds degrees in naval architecture and welding engineering from the University of Hamburg.

The Vard Group has appointed Cathrine Kristiseter Marti as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) starting June 1, 2024. She will take over current CEO Alberto Maestrini, who will remain in his position as Chairman of the Board.

Marti previously worked as CEO of the Ulstein Group, a position she held for three years. Prior to that, she was the group’s Chief Financial Officer for six years.

Her prior work experience includes service as an account officer at DnB Nor Shipping and head of finance and later of planning and strategy at Hoegh Autoliners.

Chartwell Marine has designated Christophe Rident as Senior Naval Architect.

In his role, Rident will support activities in the design and eventual commercialisation of vessels.

Rident joins from BMT, where he helped develop full-electric and hybrid fast ferry and commercial vessel solutions.

SHIP WORLD:

Inland shipping pioneer Future Proof Shipping (FPS) has appointed Sara Ravazza as its new Managing Director, effective April 1, 2024.

Ravazza has over two decades of experience in the shipping industry including recent tenures as managing director of several shipping lines in the Netherlands including Maersk Benelux.

In her new role, she will be responsible for overseeing all daily business activities and managing the FPS team, reporting directly to the board of directors.

Associated British Ports (ABP) has selected Ben St Quintin to serve in the newly created role of Lead Property Development Manager.

In his role, he will manager ABP’s UK property portfolio, covering 16 ports in Wales, the Southwest, East Anglia, the Northwest, and Scotland.

St Quintin is a Chartered Surveyor and has been with ABP as a Property Development Manager since December 2021. Before joining ABP, he was a partner at Alder King Property Consultants and has vast experience of leading major acquisitions and disposals, as well as managing pre-development technical and planning matters.

FISHING BOAT WORLD:

International non-profit trade association the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) has appointed Mike Kocsis as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Kocsis joined GSA in April 2022 as Chief Systems Officer to oversee certification operations and information technology. He was most recently promoted to Chief Strategy Officer in August 2023.

Kocsis joined the seafood industry after completing studies in supply chain management and international business. He holds a bachelor of science degree in logistics and international business from Penn State University and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

His career includes leadership roles at High Liner Foods, King and Prince Seafood, and Gorton’s Seafood.