Bayley, Sasso among ACMF webinar speakers for Caribbean students

The American Caribbean Maritime Foundation (ACMF), in association with the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities and CARICOM Youth Ambassadors, launched Maritime Linkup: Beyond Borders Webinars.

Maritime and blue economy opportunities

The series, focused on connecting Caribbean youth with educational and professional opportunity in the maritime sector and blue economy, is free to students and educators.

Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, is scheduled to speak about the cruise industry's importance for the Caribbean on Sept. 23. Rick Sasso, chairman, MSC Cruises USA, will delve into Caribbean environmental issues, regulations and compliance on Oct. 7.

The five-part webinar series opened this week with Remy Vyzelman, president of Integra Marine & Freight Services/DP World, and includes Rick Murrell, president and CEO of Saltchuk Logistics and retired chairman of Tropical Shipping, on Sept. 9 and Juan Carlos Croston, president of the Caribbean Shipping Association, on Oct. 21.

'This important opportunity to partner with the ACMF to plan, promote and deliver a series of webinars on maritime prospects for the youth of the Caribbean is historic,' said Pauline Whiteman, chair of the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities.

For her part, ACMF President Dr. Geneive Brown Metzger 'values the opportunity to work with CANTA and the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors, and looks forward to collaborating on other projects to engage more of our youth in this vital sector.'

Scholarship to be awarded at the final webinar

ACMF will fund a full-tuition, four-year scholarship, the ACMF CANTA Scholarship, for academic year 2021. It is to be awarded at the final webinar on Oct. 21 to a recipient who may study at one of ACMF's academic partners — the Caribbean Maritime University in Jamaica or the University of Trinidad and Tobago. 

New York-based nonprofit ACMF funds scholarships and grants for Caribbean students to study logistics and maritime topics at any of its three academic partners: the Caribbean Maritime University, University of Trinidad and Tobago and the LJM Maritime Academy in the Bahamas. It has funded 13 scholarships and grants since inception and raised a lecture hall at the Caribbean Maritime University. Eight of its scholarship recipients are graduating in 2020 with bachelor’s degrees.

Anchor Awards

ACMF also hosts the annual Anchor Awards honoring maritime industry leaders. The 2020 Anchor Award honorees are Win Thurber, chairman of Norton Lilly International, and Rick Sasso.