In our special column this time, we are pleased to host an interview with Dr. William H. Moore, Senior Vice President, The American P&I Club who notes that there is need for a greater understanding of where shipping stands with regards to commercial and environmental sustainability, highlighting also that solutions for long term sustainability within the maritime industry are vital.
SAFETY4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?
William Moore: I wanted to be a marine biologist as a child but did not like it in college. I was good at mathematics and studied naval architecture and offshore engineering. I found my liking more for shipping rather than offshore and took that path.
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
W.M.: I find the daily challenges of loss prevention for a P&I club are very diverse related to crew, cargo, collison, pollution, etc. Every day is something different!
S4S: When you think of the word successful who’s the first person who comes to mind and why?
W.M.: Albert Einstein. He has touched science and engineering like no other in history.
S4S: Who is/was the most influential person/mentor to you & why?
W.M.: Sr Robert Bea, Professor Emeritus of Naval Architecture & Offshore Engineering, University of California at Berkeley. He challenged and inspired me to be who I am in this industry. I am forever grateful.
S4S: What is the best and what was the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given and why?
W.M.: Best- Hard work pays off. Worst- Thankfully, none.
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
W.M.: Moving into marine insurance side of the business.
S4S: If you could give a piece of advice to your 18-year-old-self one thing, what would it be and why? What piece of advice should you ignore?
W.M.: Study engineering. The opportunities are endless afterwards.
S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your business life?
W.M.: A greater understanding of where shipping needs to go for long term future in areas of commercial and environmental sustainability.
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
W.M.: I would look to greater focus on environmental studies to develop solutions for long term sustainability of our maritime industry.
S4S: What is your personal motto?
W.M.:”Engineering is the art of organizing and men and controlling forces and materials of for the benefit of the human race.” Use the gifts wisely!
Dr. Moore is the Senior Vice President for Loss Prevention at the Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., managers of the American Club. In that capacity, he brings 22 years of experience to the development and implementation of the Club’s loss prevention initiatives to assist shipowners in the reduction of maritime risks and incidents. He formerly worked at ABS in New York and Gard Services in Norway. Dr. Moore is also formerly the Chairman of the IMO’s Joint Maritime Safety Committee & Marine Environmental Protection Committee’s working group on the Human Element.
