IMMEDIATE RELEASE             October 13, 2006

With great sadness we announce the death of Captain Ray Skelton, Duluth Seaway Port Authority security, environmental and government affairs director.

Following a courageous battle with cancer, Captain Skelton, 63, died today (October 13) at his home in Duluth, Minn.

Captain Skelton, a former Great Lakes ship master, served as the security, environmental and government affairs director for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. He was also the foreign trade zone manager.

He began his career with the Port Authority in 1990, and was the Authority’s liaison on maritime trade and environmental issues with elected and appointed officials at regional and national levels.

A native of Bay City, Mich., Captain Skelton went to sea with the Navy Submarine Service in 1961. He saw extensive service in the Pacific Fleet until late 1964.

From 1965 through 1986, he served in various shipboard capacities with American Steamship Co., Litton Industries and Columbia Steamship Lines. He received a first class pilot’s license in 1972 and a master’s license in 1976 from the Associated Maritime Officers School of Navigation in Toledo, Ohio.

He was a U.S. Maritime Industry Representative to the Transportation Research Board Marine Environment Committee, Port representative to the Arrowhead Counter Terrorism Task Force, Great Lakes Port representative to U.S. Coast Guard District 9 Security Committee, Member of the Minnesota Sea Grant Advisory Board, Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute Advisory Committee, Area Maritime Security Committee Chair Facilities Security Sub-Committee, and the Port representative to U.S. Coast Guard Port Area Committee, Harbor Technical Advisory Committee, Metropolitan Interstate Committee Transportation Advisory Committee, Chamber of Commerce Committees on Transportation, Waterfront Issues, and Government Affairs, the Habitat Creation Task Force, the Voluntary Ballast Control Committee, and was the Port representative to the American Association of Port Authorities Harbors and Navigation Committee.

He was also a member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ruffe Task Force, Great Lakes Commission Ballast Demonstration Project, Steering Committee, Minnesota Representative to Great Lakes Regional Dredge Team and American Association of Port Authorities’ representative to U.S. Coast Guard Standing Committee on Ballast and Shipping.

Captain Skelton was past grand president of the International Shipmasters’ Association, past chairman of American Association of Port Authorities Harbors, Navigation and Environment Committee, past president of the Propeller Club of the United States-Twin Ports Chapter, a former director and instructor of the Associated Maritime Officers School of Navigation and served as U.S. ports representative on the National Research Council Marine Board Ballast Committee.

Memorial arrangements are being finalized. An announcement with these details will be provided shortly in the Duluth News Tribune at:

http://www.legacy.com/duluthsuperior/DeathNotices.asp

Captain Ray Skelton’s photo is available at:
http://www.duluthport.com/ray.skelton.jpg

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