Carnival Chairman Receives Award
Carnival Chairman Micky Arison Awarded Aboard Noordam in NYC.
MANHATTAN- The Steamship Historical Society of America presented the
2005 C. Bradford Mitchell Award to Carnival Corporation chairman
Micky Arison during a ceremony aboard Holland America Line's new
cruise ship, the M/S Noordam on Tuesday, February 21st, 2006.
The SSHSA C. Bradford Mitchell Award is to honor an individual,
institution, or agency for a single achievement that contributes to
the aims of the SSHSA; "To Record, Preserve and Disseminate the
History of Engine Powered Vessels."
The award was presented by SSHSA president Robert Cleasby, and
national director and awards chair Christopher Dougherty. Among the
attendees were Holland America Line president Stein Kruse, Corrado
Antonini, Chairman of Fincantieri Shipbuilders, the builders of MS
Noordam, Captain James McNamara, President of the National Cargo
Bureau, Captain Stephen J. Card, maritime artist whose works appear
on-board Noordam, Frank Braynard, world renowned maritime historian,
as well as other dignitaries from the society and Carnival Corp.
Micky Arison: "The relationship between our company and the Society
is a very important one." "Over the years, through acquisition and
merger, we've basically cornered the history of this industry." "It
is very important" he said "that we be very aware of the history and
traditions of these companies, because that is what makes them
great."
Christopher Dougherty: "It is out of appreciation of Mr. Arison's
efforts to maintain the heritage of Trans-Atlantic ocean liner
travel with the purchase and operation of Cunard Line, and the
design, construction and operation of Queen Mary 2, that we are
pleased to award him the C. Bradford Mitchell Award for 2005. It is
because of Mr. Arison's efforts, as well as those skilled and
dedicated people he has chosen to work around him, that an important
segment of the maritime industry, and, indeed, world history will
continue for generations."
Robert Cleasby: "There are many achievements that can be attributed
to [Micky Arison]. He spearheaded the company transaction which
combined Carnival Corporation's six passenger line and cruise
operations with the brands of P&O Princess Cruises creating a truly
global cruise operation. As important as that is," he said, "what is
most important to maritime historians is that Micky Arison was the
driving force behind the building of Cunard Line's RMS Queen Mary 2,
continuing for at least another forty years, the allure and history
of trans-atlantic ocean liner travel."
The Steamship Historical Society of America is a 70 year old
international organization of about 2,200 members in the United
States, Canada and abroad. Headquartered in Providence RI, the
society maintains an office and library on-board the RMS Queen Mary
in Long Beach California, which also serves as headquarters for the
Southern California Chapter, which is one of ten chapters across the
US. In addition, the society maintains a library collection at the
University of Baltimore, which consists of some 750,000 photographs,
books, maritime journals, and related documents covering over 100
years. The society's quarterly publication, Steamboat Bill is widely
recognized as one of the finest in maritime history.