Commander Gary T. Croot relieved Commander Hung M. Nguyen in June as commanding officer of the Marine Safety Office, Duluth. Commander Croot previously served as an executive officer in Mobile, Alabama. Commander Nguyen transferred to the Marine Safety Center in Washington, D.C.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), representing public ports throughout the Western Hemisphere, named U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta as its Port Person of the Year during its annual meeting in March. "The port industry appreciates Secretary Mineta's vision and leadership on freight mobility and maritime transportation system issues," said Kurt Nagle, AAPA president and CEO.

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) announced in March the appointment of Richard Gaudreau, William Keays and Peter Cathcart to its board of directors for three-year terms. The new appointees all have extensive marine experience and are active in the industry at local and national levels. The SLSMC is a not-for-profit corporation that operates the 13 Seaway locks between Montreal and Lake Erie.

Wisconsin Republican Representative Mark Green and Michigan Democratic Senator Debbie A. Stabenow were named Great Lakes Legislators of the Year in May by the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF). The awards are presented annually to legislators who best advance the interests of Great Lakes shipping in Congress. The GLMTF is the largest coalition representing the Great Lakes maritime community.