Elvio Marcuzzi

With responsibility for supporting operations of 40+ cruise ships across four Holland America brands—which range in capacity from 400 to 2,000 crew and 650 to 5,000 guests—I make sure all vessels’ navigational readiness, safety, and operations comply with international, country-level, and local regulations for maritime operation and environmental protection. A key initiative was our unprecedented response during the earliest stages of COVID-19, through which I collaboratively negotiated with global and national authorities to repatriate 100,000+ guests and crew and secure safe movement and harbor of vessels reduced monthly operating for optimal efficiency without impairing compliance and readiness.

In a senior role, I managed budget allocations, inventory, and dry-dock projects for five ships. In addition to implementing procedures for global Health, Environmental, Safety, & Security Management System requirements, I helped launch an expedition-based operations model in remote destinations.

Following three major, successive incidents—including the capsize of the Costa Concordia in Italy—I collaborated in a massive effort to standardize health, environmental, safety, and security protocols, procedures, and systems for every ship in Carnival’s eight-brand, 102-vessel fleet. We collected and assessed hundreds of individual operating procedures to identify best practices for the new protocols. These and other new systems enabled us to increase data collection for improved safety across the fleet.

In addition to directing global recruitment, hiring, assignment, scheduling, and credentials for all shipboard engine officers, I made sure technical and vessel operations remained in-budget and compliant with industry regulations.

My role included development of safety management system (SMS) policies that met or exceeded US and international maritime safety regulations, incident investigation and analysis, survival craft inspections, and due diligence of lifesaving and fire-fighting service providers. Among my project assignments was a fleet-wide study to assess a proposed increase in guest capacity, which required escape calculation modifications and approval of revised ship drawings.

In a diverse capacity as a navigation bridge officer, officer watch leader, and SMS officer, I oversaw global audit preparation, chemical management, and dry-dock project planning.

As a master mariner with an unlimited operator’s license, I held progressive positions aboard chemical tanker vessels to support preparation for vetting inspections by Shell, BP, Mobil, ERG, ENI, Chevron, and Texaco.