He succeeded Richard Schiferli who retired on 1st November, 2018 after 29 years with the Paris MoU.
Smulders was educated at the Royal Navy Academy of the Netherlands, and he sailed for five years as a naval officer. After a short period in the private sector, he worked as an inspector and adviser in the Netherlands Shipping Inspectorate where he gained relevant knowledge on maritime legislation and the practice of inspections.
In 2007, he moved to the maritime policy directorate dealing with subjects such as the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the Paris MoU on Port State Control. He was appointed as co-ordinating policy adviser within the Maritime Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and also served as the Alternate Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the IMO.
The Paris MoU is currently running a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on MARPOL Annex VI.
The main objectives of the CIC, running to 30th November, are to establish the level of compliance with the requirements and to create awareness among ships’ crew and shipowners.
Kierstin Lachtman is to take over as general secretary of the Liberian Shipowners’ Council (LSC) in February, 2019 from Joseph Ludwiczak, who is retiring after 17 years at the helm.
Lachtman, who will be based at the LSC offices in Dulles (Va) is currently manager, maritime policy for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) in Washington (DC).
Adamantios Lemos, LSC Board chairman, said, “On behalf of the Liberian Shipowners’ Council, I would like to express our profound gratitude to Joe for his outstanding leadership and dedication over the past 17 years. He will be greatly missed, but we are confident that our rigorous search process has provided us with an exceptional successor.
“Kierstin is a highly motivated and accomplished maritime professional with a well-deserved reputation for informed advocacy on behalf of shipowners. We look forward to working with her to expand and strengthen LSC,” he said.
KVH Industries has announced that Brent Bruun has expanded his responsibilities as COO, and Mark Woodhead has been named executive vice president of mobile connectivity.
In his role as COO, Bruun will spearhead corporate business development; oversee all operational and financial aspects of KVH’s mobile connectivity and inertial navigation businesses; lead financial planning and analysis; foster investor relations; and work toward organisational excellence across the global company.
Woodhead’s new role sees him take on leadership for EMEA, Asia, and Americas commercial sales; global leisure sales; KVH Videotel and KVH Media Group; global sales operations; and product line management.
In making both announcements, KVH’s CEO, Martin Kits van Heyningen, said: “We are fortunate to have such a strong internal team here at KVH. We are entering 2019 with terrific momentum and I have every confidence that these changes will further our success.”