By Mark Nero, Managing Editor
A new beginning…and a continuation. That’s what this issue of Pacific Maritime represents.
First, it’s a new beginning because the magazine has changed ownership. As you may know, Philips Publishing has sold the magazine to San Diego-based Maritime Publishing. Maritime Publishing is a division of Training Resources Limited, Inc., the largest privately held provider of maritime training in the Western United States.
The magazine’s new publisher, Dave Abrams, is the CEO of Training Resources Maritime Institute, a former U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer and current licensed USCG 100 Ton Master. Additionally, he’s a certified instructor with the National Safe Boating Council and an authorized instructor for the USCG Auxiliary Boating Skills & Seamanship program.
So why would Dave enter publishing? His interest arose out of a desire to help mariners stay educated and informed, not just through historical practices associated with training, but through current industry news and events. For him, it’s all about the mariner, and the overall maritime community. Dave is a connector, and helping people connect with each other through the various training and media platforms is the ultimate goal.
Helping guide the path is yours truly, Mark Nero, Pacific Maritime’s new managing editor. To longtime readers of the magazine, my name may be familiar; prior to the publication going on hiatus in 2020, I occasionally wrote for both this magazine and her sister publication, Fishermen’s News. I have more than 25 years’ experience as a professional journalist and through the years have been an editor with various publications that cover the goods transport industry.
Oh, and there’s more news to share.
In mid-March, Maritime Publishing acquired Professional Mariner and Ocean Navigator magazines from Portland, Maine based Navigator Publishing, thereby bringing more maritime-focused publications into the family.
Professional Mariner is a news magazine with a 30-year history of focusing on the needs of USCG-licensed professional mariners. Ocean Navigator, founded in 1985, focuses on seamanship for self-reliant recreational mariners serious about spending time at sea.
That’s the new beginning. Now on to the continuation part.
I’m very pleased to say that many of bylines that you previously saw in the magazine are joining us in this new journey. You’ll regularly see the names of Contributing Editor Karen Robes Meeks and Alaska Bureau Chief Margaret Bauman in the magazine; and longtime maritime reporter Peter Marsh is also returning to provide vessel profiles and other content.
Although some of the names associated with the magazine have changed, the majority remain the same. Also remaining the same is our commitment to providing you with quality, substantive maritime industry news.
This issue of PMM covers the months of April and May, and the next issue will have a June-July cover date. After that we’ll return to a monthly schedule the rest of the year – with the exception of a combined November-December during the holiday season.
And with that said, if you happen to read this and are not a current subscriber, please consider purchasing a one-year subscription for yourself or someone else who may be interested. Or, if you operate a business, please consider purchasing an ad. Subscribers and advertisers are essential partners to ensure that we keep Pacific Maritime a healthy and economically viable source of news about West Coast marine business. We are dependent upon your ongoing support.
Thank you.
MARK NERO is a veteran maritime journalist who has written for numerous publications over the years, including Fishermen’s News and Pacific Maritime Magazine. He was named managing editor of Pacific Maritime Magazine in March 2021.
Managing Editor Mark Nero can be reached at: mark@maritimepublishing.com