U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu Named Honorary Chairperson Of United Seamen's Service Admiral of the Ocean Sea 2013

NEW YORK, NY (July 30, 2013) -- United States Senator Mary Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana, will serve as Honorary Chairperson of the United Seamen's Service (USS) 2013 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS). This year's AOTOS recipients are Philip W. J. Fisher, President of Chas. Kurz & Co; U. S. Representative Peter King, Republican of New York; and Emanuel Rouvelas, maritime attorney and partner at K & L Gates.

Senator Landrieu was a recipient of the 2012 AOTOS. The maritime industry's most prestigious awards will be presented at a gala industry dinner and dance to be held at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, New York City, on November 15, 2013. Recognition will also be given to American Seafarers for specific acts of bravery and heroism while at sea.

General Kenneth Wykle, USA (Ret.), Chairman of the USS AOTOS Committee, said: "We are pleased and proud that Senator Landrieu will lead our efforts this year on behalf of America's seafarers. As we noted when she was so honored last year, the senator has spent her career in elected office bringing a leadership voice to efforts that benefit all Americans," he added.

For AOTOS 2013, Michael Sacco, President of the Seafarers International Union, is Dinner Chairman. F. Anthony Naccarato of American Maritime Officers Service and Joseph Cox of Chamber of Shipping of America will be serving as National Committee Co-Chairmen.

The three silver AOTOS statuettes, all handcrafted in Italy and copied from the statue of Christopher Columbus, the original Admiral of the Ocean Sea, that overlooks the harbor in Genoa, will arrive shortly at Port Elizabeth, NJ, on the US-flag containership Maersk Utah.

All proceeds from the AOTOS event benefit USS community services abroad for the U.S. merchant marine, seafarers of all nations, and U.S. government and military overseas. USS continues to provide community services for the U.S. Merchant Marine, the American Armed Forces, and seafarers of the world. USS, a non-profit agency established in 1942, operates centers in six foreign ports in Europe, Asia, and Africa and in the Indian Ocean, and also provides seagoing libraries to American vessels through its affiliate, the American Merchant Marine Library Association.

Edward Morgan is President and Roger Korner is Executive Director of USS. Information about the gala, tickets and advertising journal is available from USS AOTOS Coordinator, Barbara Spector Yeninas at aotos@bsya.com or (732) 817-0400 x 16. To contact USS directly, call (718) 369-3818.