The United Seamen’s Service (USS) has announced that the 56th annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Awards will honor Captain Willie Barrere, National President of American Maritime Officers; Edward F. Hanley, Chief Operating Officer of Maersk Line, Limited and Vincent J. Marino, Chief Executive Officer of CMC-ITI-CCS.
For more than half a century, the AOTOS Award has recognized individuals whose leadership, integrity, and vision have advanced the U.S. maritime industry while upholding the welfare of the American seafaring workforce. This year’s honorees reflect those values and more, standing as tireless advocates for safety, progress, labor, and the strength of the American-flag fleet.
“These are leaders who never forgot where they came from. They have built trust with crews, strengthened labor partnerships, and fought to keep the American maritime workforce resilient, respected, and ready. Their unwavering dedication to seafarers and to the values that define our industry makes them ideal recipients of this prestigious award,” said LTG Kenneth R. Wykle, USA, (Ret.), Chairman of the USS AOTOS Committee.
Captain Willie Barrere, National President, American Maritime Officers
Captain Willie Barrere is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He spent 27 years at sea, many as captain aboard Crowley and Maersk vessels, before bringing his deep-sea experience ashore to lead with the same discipline, resolve, and purpose that defined his time on the water.
Since taking the helm of American Maritime Officers, Captain Barrere has emerged as a formidable negotiator and unapologetic advocate for his members. He has led from the front, securing stronger wages, better benefits, and building critical recruitment pipelines. He brings persistence, clarity, and strategic insight to every negotiation, fighting not just to maintain ground, but to advance it.
Respected for his steady leadership and commanding presence at the table, Captain Barrere is known for getting results. He combines credibility with conviction, navigating complex challenges with calm determination and an unshakable focus on those he represents. Whether leading a ship or shaping the future of maritime labor, his compass remains fixed: To serve, to strengthen, and to secure the future for American mariners.
Edward F. Hanley, Chief Operating Officer, Maersk Line, Limited
Edward F. Hanley has dedicated more than four decades to strengthening American-flag shipping, earning a reputation as one of the most respected and effective leaders in the U.S. maritime industry. With a career marked by operational excellence, strategic vision, and an unshakable commitment to seafarers, Mr. Hanley has championed the growth of the U.S.-flag fleet and the safety, dignity, and welfare of those who sail under it. As a seasoned labor relations expert and longtime COO of Maersk Line, Limited, he has played a critical role in bringing new tonnage under U.S. registry and ensuring that crews are supported not only with jobs, but with safe, stable, and honorable careers.
A graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Mr. Hanley holds dual licenses in navigation and engineering and served in the U.S. Naval Reserve. His leadership spans key executive positions at Sea-Land Service and U.S. Ship Management, where he earned the trust of both labor and management for his rare ability to balance operational demands with an unwavering focus on mariner safety and workforce development. He has been a driving force in advancing shipboard safety standards and investing in the systems and people that keep vessels moving, and crews protected.
Across the maritime community, Mr. Hanley is known as a unifier. He understands the human, technical, and operational dimensions of this industry like few others, and he brings those worlds together with purpose and clarity. His lifelong devotion to the U.S. Merchant Marine and his enduring work to expand its capabilities, while never losing sight of the seafarers at its core, make him not only a trusted leader, but a legacy builder whose impact will resonate for generations to come.
About United Seamen’s Service
Proceeds from AOTOS benefit USS’s global network of seafarer support services, which provide aid and facilities to American mariners, allied crews, and U.S. military personnel overseas.
United Seamen’s Service (USS) promotes the welfare of American seafarers and their families, seafarers of all nations, and U.S. military personnel. The USS is also affiliated with the American Merchant Marine Library Association, which supplies “seagoing libraries” to U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and merchant marine vessels.