AOTOS Awards to Widdows, Kurz, Coast Guard

AOTOS Awards to Widdows, Kurz, Coast Guard    United Seamen's Service presented its 40th Annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards on Friday to Donald Kurz, president and chief executive officer of Keystone Shipping Co.; and Ronald Widdows, group president, CEO of Neptune Orient Lines.
   Philadelphia-based Keystone operates tankers, dry bulk carriers, tug barges, roll-on/roll-off, and special purpose military vessels. Singapore-based NOL is parent company of American President Lines APL, the world's fifth-largest container carrier.
   A special AOTOS Award was presented to the U.S. Coast Guard and accepted by Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant.
   The recipients shared the evening with a group of American seafarers honored for acts of bravery at sea, including the crews of both the Maersk Alabama and Liberty Sun for their actions in the face of piracy at sea.

AOTOS award recipients Ronald Widdows (left), Adm. Thad Allen and Donald Kurz.

   Proceeds from the event in New York are distributed to the United Seamen’s Service, which provides community services for the U.S. Merchant Marine, the American Armed Forces, and seafarers of the world. A non-profit agency established in 1942, it operates centers in eight foreign ports in Europe, Asia, Africa and in the Indian Ocean, and also provides seagoing libraries to American vessels through its affiliate, the American Merchant Marine Library Association.