The Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey names 2020 International Maritime Hall of Fame inductees

The Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey (MAPONY/NJ) has announced five global shipping leaders to be inducted into the 2020 International Maritime Hall of Fame. The 27th annual event will be held May 13, 2020 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.

The honorees, announced by MAPONY/NJ Executive Director Edward Kelly, are:
• Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises Inc., Miami, FL
• James R. Mara, President Emeritus, Metropolitan Marine Maintenance Contractors’ Association, Rutherford, NJ
• James I. Newsome III, President and CEO, South Carolina Ports Authority, Charleston, SC
• Dr. Nikolas P. Tsakos, President and CEO, Tsakos Energy Navigation Corp., Athens, Greece
• Lois K. Zabrocky, President and CEO, International Seaways Inc., New York City
“These industry leaders represent a broad spectrum of the global shipping industry and are deserving of this distinguished honor,” said Kelly. “From oil transport to cruising to port management and labor, all these honorees have won the respect of the international shipping community based on their successes and professionalism. We anticipate a record turnout for the event.”
Celebrity Cruises Inc.’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is a dynamic business leader whose vision and strategy have propelled Celebrity Cruises to historical financial performance. Her brand-defining industry firsts solidify her reputation as a bold trailblazer in the complex and ever-changing maritime industry.
Lutoff-Perlo leads the multi-billion-dollar brand with 13 ships sailing to 300+ global ports with each ship’s crew representing over 60 nationalities and a diverse global workforce of over 20,000. Lutoff-Perlo also leads Royal Caribbean Cruises’ (RCL) Global Marine Organization, ensuring that the corporation’s $28-billion fleet of 61 ships run safely, smoothly and efficiently across all RCL brands.
James R. Mara is President Emeritus of the Metropolitan Marine Maintenance Contractors’ Association, a not-for-profit trade group that is comprised of 21 companies doing business in the Port of New York and New Jersey. They employ some 1,100 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association, specifically ILA Local 1814 and 1804-1. Prior to assuming the role of association President in 2014, Mara spent 33 years as a labor contactor at various MMMCA contractor companies connected through a community of ownership. At the time of the transition in 2014, Mara was President of A. G. Ship Maintenance (Portwide) and Bay Container Repair of NJ. Additionally, Mara has actively served on the Council for Port Performance and was on the Board of the MAPONY and its Executive Committee.

James I. Newsome, III became President and Chief Executive Officer of the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) on September 1, 2009 and is only the fifth leader in the history of the organization, as well as the longest serving head of a major container port in the U.S. He was previously President of Hapag-Lloyd (America), Inc. Prior to joining Hapag-Lloyd in 1997, Mr. Newsome was with Nedlloyd Lines from 1987 to 1997. He was Executive Vice President of the Americas for Nedlloyd Lines and President of Nedlloyd Lines (USA) Corporation based in Atlanta. Before that, Newsome spent 10 years with Strachan Shipping Company, where he was President of their Hoegh Lines Agencies subsidiary in Jersey City, NJ. He held other positions in Houston, Texas and New York City.
Dr. Nikolas P. Tsakos is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN), a pioneering shipping company, established 27 years ago and quoted on the New York Stock Exchange. He comes from a traditional Chios seafaring family and has served as an officer in the Greek Navy. Tsakos was the Chairman of INTERTANKO from 2014 to 2018 and the former President of the environmental organization “HELMEPA”. He sits on the boards of a number of maritime and finance organizations and associations. A Columbia University graduate, Mr. Tsakos also obtained a Master’s Degree in Shipping, Trade and Finance from London’s City University Business School (CASS). In 2011, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from City University for his pioneering work in the equity financial markets relating to shipping companies.
Lois K. Zabrocky has been President and Chief Executive Officer of International Seaways, one of the largest tanker companies worldwide, since 2016. The company owns and operates a fleet of 42 vessels including 13 VLCCs, two Suezmaxes, six Aframaxes/LR2, 12 Panamaxes/LR1s and seven MR tankers. Through a joint venture, it has ownership interests in two Floating Storage and Offloading Service vessels. Before assuming leadership for International Seaways, Ms. Zabrocky 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.