In recognition of his efforts to employ new technologies including all-electric zero-emissions vessel propulsion, ABB Marine and Ports vice president, Americas, newbuilds, Edward Schwarz was named the 51st recipient of the United States Merchant Marine Academy’s Admiral McCready Award
The award was announced by co-chairman of the award committee and the 43rd recipient of the award Edward A Waryas Jr. Mr Waryas is a board member for NYSE-listed KNOT Offshore Partners, a shuttle tanker owner and operator.
A 2000 graduate of USMMA Kings Point, Mr Schwartz has been a strong supporter of employing all-electric propulsion technologies as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the marine market. He was most recently involved in the groundbreaking development of two all-electric passenger vessels built for Maid of the Mist – the first of their kind in the US.
Interest in such vessels is growing in the US, Mr Schwartz told Marine Propulsion, saying, “October is shaping up to be our busiest month in 2020.” He said that despite not being able to travel for the last seven months due to the pandemic, ABB Marine and Ports has had to field a number of requests for proposals for hybrid or all-electric propulsion systems. “We knew the market was very interested in solutions to reduce emissions from all our conversations over the past year, but we are pleasantly surprised by all the requests for newbuild opportunities this year. Owners are understanding quickly that hybrid and all-electric solutions are the path to success for the future.”
Award recognises technical achievements
Awarded annually until 2017, the Lauren S McCready award is intended to recognise graduates of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) who have made significant technical achievements in the marine industry or who have contributed organisational or managerial support to making such technical achievements possible.
The award is named in honour of RADM Lauren Strong McCready, the first and longtime head, Department of Engineering at the USMMA, Kings Point, NY.
Rear Admiral Lauren S McCready was one of the original founders and builders of the US Merchant Marine Academy. Admiral McCready joined the staff of the US Maritime Commission as Cadet Training Instructor in 1940 following a start earlier that year at the Maritime Officers Training School at Fort Trumbull.
In February 1942 he began the conversion of the Walter P Chrysler Estate into the newly commissioned US Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point. He was the first head of the Department of Engineering while simultaneously overseeing the physical construction of Fulton Hall. Over the next three decades he achieved the Engineering Department’s first accreditation, founded the nuclear programme, and later was the first director of the National Maritime Research Center at Kings Point.
In 1967, the first recipient of the Admiral McCready award was Ted Kedzierski, Class 1950, who served as chief engineer on the nuclear-powered merchant ship NS Savannah.
Past winners have included Warren G Leback, past US Maritime Administrator, Eugene K Pentimonti, vice president of government affairs for Maersk Sealand and Robert P Magee, chairman of the American Shipping Group.
The Admiral McCready committee is headed by co-Chairman Mr Waryas and John Hatley, a 1976 graduate of Kings Point.
Nominations for future awards should be forwarded to Mr Waryas at email eawjr13@gmail.com or Wärtsilä Americas vice president marine solutions John Hatley john.hatley@wartsila.com.
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