Longtime Steamship Authority employee named Assistant Port Captain; four employees added to engineering team
FALMOUTH (November 19, 2019) – The Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (“SSA”) is pleased to announce that Capt. Paul F. Hennessy has been named the organization’s new Assistant Port Captain, effective December 2, 2019.
Capt. Hennessy has been a SSA employee since 1991, having served as a wiper, an ordinary seaman, an able-bodied seaman, a bosun and a pilot before being named a vessel captain in 2003. He has operated all the Authority’s vessels and served as Senior Captain on four vessels in that time. In his new role, Capt. Hennessy will work alongside Port Captain Charles M. Monteiro to ensure the SSA’s vessels conform to U.S. Coast Guard requirements, ensure that vessel personnel are performing their duties in accordance with SSA policies, and assist with training of vessel personnel. He will also be responsible for assisting in the implementation of the Authority’s Safety Quality Management System (“SQMS”).
“Paul’s long experience with the Steamship Authority made him an ideal choice to serve as Assistant Port Captain, especially as we embark on the implementation of our SQMS,” General Manager Robert B. Davis said. “I have every confidence that Capt. Hennessy will serve admirably in this position.”
Capt. Hennessy, who has a degree from Cape Cod Community College, lives in East Falmouth.
The SSA also recently made several new hires in its engineering department as part of its efforts to better manage and maintain its marine assets.
The following individuals have recently joined the Authority:
Liam J. Slein, who serves as the Authority’s project engineer. In this role, which has been newly created, Mr. Slein is responsible for planning management oversight of all vessel repair and overhaul projects, major capital projects, and new vessel construction to ensure the objectives and expectations of each project are met.
Mr. Slein has more than 20 years of leadership and operational experience in mechanical, industrial, manufacturing, and engineering environments. A U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Mr. Slein has master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and naval architecture/marine engineering from the University of Michigan. He most recently worked as a facilities engineer at the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance.
Robert J. Stewart, who is the Authority’s second port engineer. In this role, Mr. Stewart oversees the day-to-day operations of the engineering department and maintenance activities of the Authority’s fleet as well as assisting in the planning, organizing, scheduling and efficient utilization of the fleet to monitor day-to-day preventative and corrective maintenance activities.
Mr. Stewart more than 15 years’ experience in the shipboard operation and maintenance industry. A former member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard and a current lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Mr. Stewart has a master’s degree in engineering management from George Washington University and is a Massachusetts Maritime Academy alumnus. He most recently worked as a project manager/marine engineer at ENE Energy Advisors in Canton, Massachusetts.
Zachary A. Lawrence, who serves as the Authority’s second assistant port engineer. In this role, Mr. Lawrence assists in the Authority’s two port engineers with the day-to-day operations of the engineering department and maintenance activities of the Authority’s fleet.
Mr. Lawrence is a graduate of the Maine Maritime Academy, where he majored in marine systems engineering; for the last several years, he has served aboard offshore supply vessels and tug boats.
Timothy H. DeMoranville, who serves as the Authority’s assistant vessel maintenance manager. In this role, which is newly created, Mr. DeMoranville assists the vessel maintenance manager with the supervision of the maintenance department trades personnel and vessel personnel who are assigned to the Fairhaven Vessel Maintenance Facility, or any location where an Authority vessel may be under repair or overhaul.
Mr. DeMoranville has more than 20 years of experience in the maritime field, including 14 years as the first assistant/relief chief engineer board the T/S Kennedy at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He most recently worked as a mechanical maintenance supervisor at Covanta SEMASS in Rochester, Massachusetts. He is a Maine Maritime Academy graduate.
“I am very pleased to be welcoming these individuals into the Steamship Authority family,” Mr. Davis said. “The addition of these positions, two of which are new to the Authority, will greatly expand our ability to monitor and maintain our fleet. I expect their expertise and experience will be put to immediate use within our engineering and maintenance department.”
The addition of engineering resources was one of the ten (10) recommendations to emerge from the comprehensive review of the Authority’s operations performed in 2018 by HMS Consulting, Glosten Associates and Rigor Analytics. At a future date, the Authority will recruit for an additional assistant port engineer position, which represents the final step in fully implementing this recommendation.
For more information on the HMS report and the Authority’s implementation of its recommendations, visit www.steamshipauthority.com/HMSreport.
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