January 8 - Metro Ports has named Patrick Furrow, senior VP HR & administrative services; Kenneth Keane, director, safety; and Steve Mathis, director, business development.

Furrow reports directly to the president & CEO as a key business partner responsible for attracting, developing and retaining talent and ensuring safety and compliance measures and managing administrative contacts and expenditures. 

Keane previously served as the director of safety and security for a breakbulk stevedoring company in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which followed his retirement as a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard in 2000. In his current position with Metro Ports, he oversees a decentralised safety programme in coordination with safety group leaders and the training of accident prevention to company staff and its divisions; ensures compliance with federal, state, and local safety rules and regulations; and interfaces with various agencies with oversight of workplace safety, while continually improving the corporate culture of safety through leadership, training, and example.

Mathis is a logistics professional with more than 25 years of experience, most recently, working in stevedore marketing and sales. In his current position, Mathis is a key resource in the identification, marketing and execution of business development opportunities for Metro Ports on the West Coast, working across the Metro organisation to build West Coast profit centres.

Metro Ports is a holding of Nautilus International Holding Corp. The 87-year-old company is a marine terminal operator and stevedore contractor that handles all types of cargo and excels in providing outstanding additional services to various segments of the shipping community. Companies under the Metro Ports brand include Metropolitan Stevedore Co., Southeast Crescent Shipping Co., and Southeast Maritime Services LLC. 

Whether handling Blue Line railroad cars for Los Angeles, windmills for energy farms in the desert or discharging fully erect container cranes from specialised ships, Metro says it has the experience to perform any special cargo handling needs.