Ms. Lois Zabrocky, Chief Executive Officer at International Seaways, Inc., has been named as the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) Commodore for the year 2020.
Ms. Zabrocky follows a long succession of influential maritime industry leaders as Commodore. The 2020 Commodore Award will be presented on April 2, 2020 at the Gala Dinner marking the conclusion of the annual Connecticut Maritime Association conference and trade exposition, at the Hilton Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut, USA.
The Award is given each year to a person in the international maritime industry who has contributed to the growth and development of the industry.
Ms. Zabrocky has been President and Chief Executive Officer of International Seaways, one of the largest tanker companies worldwide since 2016. Before assuming leadership for International Seaways, Lois served as Senior Vice President for the predecessor company’s International Flag strategic business unit with P&L responsibility for commercial management and oversight of fleet operations. Previously, she was Chief Commercial Officer, with responsibility for international flag crude, products and gas businesses. Zabrocky currently serves on the Board of ITOPF Limited, a leading industry based, not-for-profit ship pollution response adviser.
Joe Gross, President of the CMA, upon making the announcement, stated, "The CMA is honored to present Ms. Lois Zabrocky with the 2020 Commodore Award. Lois' extensive knowledge of the industry and ability to build and lead a first-class team are well known throughout the shipping community. She has steered International Seaways with a steady hand since its inception in 2016, operating a fleet of 42 tankers from 50,000 dwt product tankers up to 441,000 dwt FSO's.
“Under Lois' leadership, International Seaways has embraced the IMO's initiatives towards decarbonization, launching their "Get to Green" program to reduce the fleets carbon footprint, reducing consumption in their fleet by some 500mt per ship during the first year of the program.
“Lois has always been a strong supporter of the CMA throughout her career, which our community has deeply appreciated, and we consider her to be an excellent role model for young women and men entering our industry. She is indeed representative of the positive direction that shipping has been, and continues to be, moving in," Gross added.
Ms. Zabrocky said, “In the tanker business we are closely linked to the evolving world economy, competing internationally in a cyclical business. We build relationships with an incredibly smart array of professionals hailing from every corner of the globe. Our seafarers, colleagues, customers, finance partners, ship builders, and competitors all over the world combine to make the tanker business dynamic and rewarding.
“I am honored to be chosen as this year’s Commodore for the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA). I have been a member of CMA for two decades and I have always been impressed by the global reach of the organization. CMA brings together an impressive group of geographically diverse maritime people with differing skills and talents, all of which are critically important to moving our industry forward,” she added.
“For myself, and Seaways, to be honored by this esteemed organization, is a big milestone in my life and my career. When I think of the Commodores who have come before me, it seems that my idols have become my peers.”
Former CMA Commodores include: Ole Skaarup, Jacob Stolt-Nielsen, George Livanos, Phil Loree, Thomas Moran, Gregory Hadjieleftheriadis, Dr. Helmut Sohmen, Gerhard Kurz, William O’Neil, Richard du Moulin, Per Heidenreich, Marc Saverys, Frank Tsao, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Peter Georgiopoulos, C. Sean Day, Torben Jensen, Morten Arntzen, John Fredriksen, Capt. Wei Jiafu, Philippe Louis-Dreyfus, Angeliki Frangou, Øivind Lorentzen, III, Peter Evensen, Robert Bugbee, Capt. Panagiotis Tsakos, Paddy Rodgers, Jack Noonan, Sabrina Chao, and in 2019 John C. Hadjipateras.
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About International Seaways, Inc.
International Seaways commenced operations through its predecessor company in 2016 and currently owns and operates a fleet of 42 vessels including 40 conventional tankers. Through joint venture partnerships, they have ownership interests in two floating storage vessels. International Seaways has an experienced team committed to the very best operating practices and the highest levels of customer service and operational efficiency. The Company stands on a solid financial foundation ready to support the business and provide for agile opportunity seeking and well-timed growth.
International Seaways provides shipping services to customers through voyage charters, commercial pools and time charters. It works closely with all stakeholders to understand their needs and strives to exceed their expectations. The Company enjoys close long-term working relationships with its key commercial and technical management partners, and views the continued development of these relationships as crucial to its continued success.
International Seaways believes that its seafarers are as crucial to its success as the team ashore that supports them. Through its technical and commercial management partners and its own in-house expertise, International Seaways has the global network in place to support its seafarers and deliver shipping services safely and effectively to its customers.
About the CMA
The Connecticut Maritime Association is a non-profit organization built by its members for its members. The Association made of individuals representing every aspect of shipping and international trade. The CMA Education Foundation is one of the largest providers of scholarships, academic prizes and internship support in the USA.
About CMA Shipping 2020
For the past 35 years the Connecticut Maritime Association has convened a trade show and conference in Stamford, Connecticut that has dealt with the commanding issues of the day, provided a dynamic commercial market place for products and services and brought together the international leaders of the shipping industry to seriously address opportunities and challenges from environmental regulations to major commercial developments. Proceeds from the Show support the CMA Education Foundation.
For more information on CMA Shipping 2020 please contact:
Chris Clarke, Head of Production, CMA Shipping
Email: Chris.Clarke@informa.com
Tel: +44 (0)20 3377 3710