Alaska’s state Alaska has appointed an interim leader to lead Alaska Marine Highway System. Alaska Marine Highway System.
Craig Tornga has been selected as the ferry’s new director of marine. In this position, he will oversee hundreds of ferry workers as well as nine vessels. The marine director’s position previously known as the AMHS General Manager has been unfilled since the resignation of captain John Falvey in January.
As per the State Department of Transportation, Tornga has years of experience in the marine business and management. He began his career in the maritime industry working on ocean-going vessels Crowley Marine Services, which transports fuel and other supplies to Alaska. He worked for over 20 years making his way through the company.
Since the year 2017, Tornga has served as an executive vice president at Kirby Offshore Marine in Houston, Texas. Kirby Offshore Marine distributes petroleum products and has the help of offshore barges and tugs.
The state collaborated together with Alaska’s Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board in the hiring process that was unanimously in support of Tornga. The board’s chair Shirley Marquardt said that the board believes Tornga’s “decades of knowledge and experience of the unique marine industry at Alaska and Houston cover every component required” to run the ferry system.
Tornga will take over a ferry network which is facing many issues, from staffing shortages to an ageing fleet.
Tornga’s first day of the job is Monday 3rd April.
