Background

The Council of Marine Professional Associates (COMPASS) was established on April 9, 2008 in response to a deep-felt need among industry stakeholders for such an organization.

As its constitution stipulates, COMPASS is an association of "private-sector businesses and public-sector organizations directly involved in marine transportation activities (design, operations, support, human resources development, labour supply, and consultancy)."

Mission and Objectives

The mission of The Council of Marine Professional Associates (COMPASS) is to promote the development of the marine transportation sector and facilitate the participation of COMPASS members in marine transportation industries.

It seeks to fulfil this mission through the following objectives:

  • Create a forum for effective dialogue and information-sharing among COMPASS members; between COMPASS and other marine transportation stakeholders; and between COMPASS and the general public;
  • Advocate the interests of COMPASS members to industry and government decision-makers;
  • Stimulate, and contribute to, initiatives that will contribute to the development of the marine transportation sector;
  • Enhance the public perception of the marine transportation sector and build an appreciation for the importance of marine transportation industries to social and economic development and community sustainability; and
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of strategies to address human resources issues in marine transportation industries.

Governance

The activities and initiatives of COMPASS are governed by a Board of Directors comprising five executive officers and four additional directors. The composition of the Board of Directors represents the broad scope of marine transportation stakeholders:

President: Larry Moore, Canship Ugland 
Vice-President: 
Past President:      

Jeff Simms, Newfound Resources
Gerry Puddister, Puddister's Trading
Secretary: Rick Ellis, Ocean Choice International 
Treasurer:  Terry Puglisevich, Puglisevich Group of Companies

 

Bernie Brockerville, Marine Institute
Shannon MacDougall, Nova Scotia Community College 
Walter Pumphrey, Marine Division, NL - DTW
Wade Stagg, Canadian Coast Guard
 
Executive Manager: John L Connors

Membership

Full membership is open to private-sector businesses and public-sector organizations actively and directly involved in, and whose primary interest is, marine transportation activities. In order to qualify for full membership an applicant must be actively engaged in the marine transportation industry.

Associate membership is open to government departments and agencies and industry associations whose missions and objectives are aligned and consistent with those of COMPASS.

COMPASS is widely representative of marine transportation stakeholders in Canada, as the list of companies and organizations holding full and associate membership indicates:

  • Algoma Central Corporation
  • Anglo Eastern Ship Management
  • Atlantic Towing
  • Camosun College 
  • Canadian Coast Guard
  • Canship Ugland Ltd
  • Cape Harrison Marine Group 
  • Clearwater Seafoods Ltd
  • C-Mar Services (Canada) Ltd
  • Company of Master Mariners of Canada
  • Enterprise Offshore Crewing Ltd 
  • Georgian College Great Lakes International Marine Training & Research Centre 
  • NL Department of Transportation & Works, Marine Division  
  • Holland College
  • Marine Atlantic 
  • Marine Institute of Memorial University
  • Nataaqnaq Fisheries Inc
  • Newfoundland Transshipment Ltd
  • Newfound Resources Ltd  
  • NorCon Marine
  • Northern Transportation Company Ltd
  • Nova Scotia Community College
  • Nunatsiavut Group of Companies 
  • Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping Inc
  • Ocean Choice International Inc
  • Oceanex Inc 
  • Offshore Recruiting Services Inc
  • Puddister Trading Company Ltd
  • Puglisevich Crews and Services
  • Ray Berkshire Ltd
  • Secunda Canada LP - Marine Sevices