Jones F. Devlin Award

How It Got Started!

Captain Jones F. Devlin was the man instrumental in establishing not only the Devlin Awards but also the Ship Safety Achievement Awards. From the time he joined American Export Lines as a Safety at Sea Expert in 1936 until he officially retired in 1967, he devoted his entire professional life to promoting safety of life and property at sea.

In 1954, because of his close association with the American Merchant Marine Institute (AMMI), the predecessor to the Chamber of Shipping, Captain Devlin requested and the AMMI Board of Directors agreed to sponsor the Ship Safety Achievement Awards. That year, the first Awards were presented to four vessels representing two shipping companies and have continued annually since.

In 1958, Captain Devlin once again approached AMMI’s Board regarding sponsorship of an award that would specifically recognize individual ships and their crews for accident-free operations and provide an incentive for safe ship practices. The Board agreed and, in 1959, “Certificate of Honor” awards (renamed the Jones F. Devlin Award in 1960) were presented to 26 vessels representing seven companies and have been presented annually for over 40 years.