SoCal MarEx head Aschemeyer to retire

SoCal MarEx head Aschemeyer to retire Capt. M.H.K. 'Manny' Aschemeyer, long-time executive director of the Marine Exchange of Southern California, has announced he will retire, effective March 31.
   Aschemeyer, who has been at the helm of the marine exchange for nearly 15 years, made the announcement to the MarEx board and staff last week. Deputy Executive Director Capt. Dick McKenna will assume the top slot following Aschemeyer's departure.
   A 45-year veteran of the maritime industry, Aschemeyer is a highly respected icon in the Southern California maritime community. Under his watch, the marine exchange has seen the development of the Southern California Vessel Traffic Services system, which functions like an air traffic control center for all shipping transiting Southern California waters, and has become the national model for similar systems. In addition, Aschemeyer has long promoted and developed the marine exchange as 'the maritime information clearinghouse' for the area, providing numerous statistical reports to the industry as well as his own unique daily email news blast.
   'This has been the pinnacle of my career in the maritime industry, and I sincerely believe I'm departing 'at the top of my game,' ' Aschemeyer said. 'But more importantly, I'm proud of the team we've put together over the past 15 years. Indeed, all the committed folks on our board of directors, and all of our dedicated staff, have played important roles in making the marine exchange what it is today — a viable, trusted, and respected 'maritime information clearinghouse' for all of Southern California, and points beyond.'
   A Maryland native, Aschemeyer attended the California Maritime Academy, where he graduated with honors in 1963. Sailing extensively aboard American-flag merchant vessels, he rose from third mate to master in five years. Returning to his alma mater in 1969, Aschemeyer taught maritime related courses for several years. From 1971 through 1984, he managed a fleet of cargo-passenger ships operating in the Latin America trade and in 1984 he joined Stevedoring Services of America as vice president for marketing and customer services, with duties and responsibilities covering the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Hueneme, and San Diego. Aschemeyer was appointed executive director for the marine exchange in August 1993.
   The Marine Exchange of Southern California is an 80-year-old, non-profit organization that tracks, monitors and guides vessels into and out of the Southern California region. The group's records of ship arrivals and departures go back to 1923 in a string broken only by World War II.