About Cox Maritime

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Mr. Cox graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in an accelerated program finishing his final year with his classmates in one-half year graduating on February 10, 1967 to meet the need for officers on the Vietnam sealift. He sailed on the Vietnam sealift for two years and for several years as second and third mate to other parts of the world. When he came ashore, he worked for the Maritime Standards Office of the U. S. Department of Labor where he eventually became a Manager of the Cargo Gear Program. 

 After eight years with the Department of Labor, he accepted a position at the American shipowners association, the Chamber of Shipping of America. He progressed through jobs as Marine Coordinator, Director of Marine Affairs, and Vice President and was elected President/CEO in 1997. 

 Mr. Cox has a Master's degree in Safety Management from the University of Southern California and was an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College for ten years. Among his professional duties, he has attended over seventy meetings of the International Maritime Organization on the U. S. delegation. He is the U.S. shipowner representative to the International Labor Organization in Geneva and has been elected by his international colleagues as their spokesman at five diplomatic conferences and four special meetings. He serves as President/Treasurer of the Marine Gas Hazards Control Program, is Vice President of the International Cargo Gear Bureau and is former Chairman of the Board of the National Cargo Bureau. 

 He is married to Lona Mary for 47 years and has two children, Brendan and Jennifer. Jennifer is married to Jeff Conroy and they have two children, Madailein and Mary Katharine. 

Background

Congressional work  

• Plastics pollution in the ocean
•  Ballast water 
• Harbor maintenance tax 
• Safety of personnel 
• Jones Act (very important to the domestic industry) 
• Seafarer income tax 
• Seafarer training
•  Impact of regulations 
• UN Law of the Sea accession
•  Oil Pollution Act

Administration, e.g. Coast Guard, EPA, OSHA, DOJ, Maritime Administration, FCC, State Department, Navy/DOD, GAO,etc.  

• Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
•  Radio officer duties 
• Under keel clearance 
• Traffic Separation schemes 
• Pilotage charges 
• Speed reductions 
• Ship ownership requirements 
• Manning requirements 
• Handling of oil residue
•  Hazards in ship repairing

International 

• Member of US delegation at over 70 meetings of International Maritime Organization
•  US shipowner representative at International Labor Organization from 1981 to 2015 
• Member of International Chamber of Shipping Board
•  Primary spokesman for shipowners on� Maritime Labor Convention

 Industry organizations, member of:

• Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers 
• National Cargo Bureau (chairman for two years) 
• International Cargo Gear Bureau (Vice President) 
• Marine Gas hazards Control Program (President)
•  Radio Technical Committee for Maritime Services 
• US Coast Guard Navigation Safety Advisory Committee
•  National Fire Protection Association 

Other organizations worked with

• Transportation Research Board 
• Consultative Shipping Group (Foreign governments that formally interact with U. S. government)
•  Cotton Club (Washington-based� embassy transportation attaches)
•  Maritime Law Association American Maritime Partnership 
• National Ocean Policy Coalition 
• Consumer Energy Alliance

Awards/positions

•   Lloyd�s List Lifetime achievement Award
•  United Seamen�s Service Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award
•  Seafarers and International House Person of the Year 
• President, International Propeller Club 
• Connecticut Maritime Association Recognition Plaque 
• Marine Chemist Person of the Year
•  North America Marine Environment Protection Association, Environmental Person of the Year 
• Vietnam Meritorious Service Award