Starting immediately, Mark Amundsen is responsible for all aspects of the Steamship Authority’s marine and shoreside operations as well as the engineering department and communications center.
The Steamship Authority has promoted its director of engineering and maintenance to the position of chief operating officer, according to an announcement from the boat line Friday evening.
Starting immediately, Mark Amundsen is responsible for all aspects of the Steamship Authority’s marine and shoreside operations as well as the engineering department and communications center.
Mark Amundsen started working at the ferry line in 2019.
Mark Amundsen started working at the ferry line in 2019.
A veteran of the international shipping industry, Mr. Amundsen was originally hired by the Steamship Authority in 2019 for the newly-created position of director of marine operations, which was renamed last year to director of engineering and maintenance.
Mr. Amundsen has overseen the purchase and conversion of the Steamship Authority’s three new freight ferries, M/V Barnstable, M/V Aquinnah and M/V Monomoy, as well as the dry docking and maintenance of the rest of the fleet.
The chief operating officer position is a relatively new job at the Steamship Authority. The role came at the request of the boat line board of governors following a comprehensive study of the Steamship’s operations in 2018. The governors wanted someone who could prioritize vessel operations at the executive level, while also taking some of the burden off the general manager.
Mr. Amundsen is the second person to step into the position. Mark Higgins, a former Maine state ferry service employee, was hired as the first COO in 2023, but left last year to return to the Pine Tree State.
The Steamship Authority is also working to find a replacement for general manager Robert Davis, who will be stepping back later this year to take on an advisory role. The Steamship Authority did multiple internal interviews for the COO position and Mr. Davis praised Mr. Amundsen’s experience.
“Mark brings an extensive amount of experience and knowledge to the Steamship Authority, and I am pleased to continue to have him as a member of the team,” Mr. Davis said in a statement.
Mr. Amundsen received his bachelor’s degree in marine engineering at Maine Maritime Academy and is a licensed chief engineer of steam and motor vessels, according to the Steamship Authority announcement.
Comments
He’s the one who has been
Wait…He’s the one who has been overseeing all the continually broken ferries? Including the new one that seems to be troubled from the get?
An opportunity missed to
John VHAn opportunity missed to recruit a successor from the outside with a fresh perspective and a most likely better approach. I agree with the previous comment. A bit of a head scratcher…
A new guy who does not know
Albert GosnoldA new guy who does not know the operation?
Where would that new guy come from?
Another public ferry operation?
The less-than-stellar
John VHThe less-than-stellar performance record of the incumbent leadership team, regardless of which metric you choose to use, would indicate that “more of the same group-think” probably isn’t the best path to improvement.
I wish him the best of luck
Robbyk Oak bluffsI wish him the best of luck in his new job. It’s an overwhelming task working with people who are all from the same area in many who have been working in the same jobs for years. He is a relative outsider with deep knowledge of the marine industry. Let’s give him a chance and we thank him for taking on the new job. Good luck, sir.
A new COO hiring should have
Lisa, Island KidA new COO hiring should have been the responsibility of the new General Manager! Davis should have never been allowed to make this decision.
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