2008 Journal

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE FROM 2008 JOURNAL:

A warm welcome to you all. This year we are very pleased to be celebrating two milestones. Tonight marks the sixtieth gathering of our members, guests, and generous benefactors at the Society’s Annual Dinner Dance here in New York City. This month also marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of this evening’s honoree, Liberty Maritime Corporation.

Since its inception in 1988, Liberty Maritime Corporation has been in the forefront of the safe and efficient operation of dry bulk vessels worldwide and particularly in the carriage of U.S. food aid and preference cargoes on U.S. flag vessels. The company’s entry into the pure car truck carrier Ro-Ro market has been welcomed by our military deployed in the Middle East and has proven successful enough for the company to place newbuildings on order especially for this trade. Growth in the American Merchant Marine is something we in this Society most heartily welcome. The company we honor tonight is certainly aptly named as its ships have “shown the flag” again and again bringing palpable aid to people desperate for food on their tables; people longing also for that basic human right we too often take for granted - Liberty.

We salute the men and women of the Liberty Maritime team and give them our best wishes for continued success in their endeavors. Indeed we also look forward to meeting once again our many colleagues and friends, especially all who have given so much of themselves in supporting our Journal and this our sixtieth Dinner Dance.

Ad multos annos !

Sincerely, Michael E. Ford