New expert hire reflects that traveler safety is at the forefront for the award-winning cruise line
Seattle, WA, October 05, 2017 — Windstar Cruises has announced that they are welcoming seafaring safety specialist Michael Inman as the newest member of the boutique cruise line’s highly accredited leadership team.
Bringing with him a diverse spectrum of experience from both the U.S. Coast Guard and the cruise industry, Inman will report directly to Windstar President John Delaney and work alongside fleet and technical operations officials to further maintain and enhance the luxury line’s high standards for safety and traveler welfare.
“Michael Inman is no stranger to the Windstar family,” explained Delaney. “He’s worked with us in a large capacity over the last nine months, consulting on our new Alaska voyages and has given us critical support with respect to safety, environmental, and regulatory issues. Given his extensive professional experience in these areas, there is no doubt that his vast knowledge and expertise will help us meet our critical objective of safe operations everywhere we sail, every day, and on every ship.”
Inman’s distinguished career with the U.S. Coast Guard involved leading complex operations across drastically different geographic areas including the Caribbean Sea, Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and North Pacific Ocean. His day-to-day work life involved commanding multiple Coast Guard vessels and their crews, overseeing emergency search and rescue missions and spearheading intense international law enforcement efforts including counter drug, human smuggling and mass migration. He also helped plan and expand Coast Guard operations in the Arctic, influencing national level policy and decisions.
Inman’s in-depth knowledge of maritime operations in Alaska will continue to provide Windstar with significant advantages for any upcoming Alaskan itineraries, which begin in May 2018. Having served as the Captain of the Port for Southeast Alaska, Sector Juneau – an area known for its limited port facilities while remaining a number one cruise ship destination with over 1 million passengers visiting the region yearly – Inman oversaw more than 12,000 miles of coastline and was responsible for all marine safety, law enforcement matters, environmental protection policies, aids to navigations, and national security issues.
Most recently, Inman worked for Holland America Group for five-and-a-half years, focusing on safety, occupational safety and environmental issues for a fleet of more than 30 cruise ships. Inman also led the marine safety investigation program while at the cruise line and played a key role in supervising emergency response, maritime regulatory audits, environmental compliance and safety management systems.
Educated at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a Master of Science in Telecommunications Systems Management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Inman is also an associate fellow of The Nautical Institute and a board member for both the Alaska Maritime Prevention and Response Network and The Puget Sound Maritime Historic Society and Youth Maritime Training Association.
Inman joins the 130 employees on the Windstar corporate team, based at the Seattle headquarters for the six-ship fleet, which offers more than 300 cruises annually sailing to 170 ports worldwide.
To learn more about Windstar Cruises, visit www.windstarcruises.com.
About Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet of small sailing and all-suite ships visiting 170 ports throughout Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, sailing year-round in Tahiti and the South Pacific, and adding newly announced Alaska, Canada, New England, Asia and Arabia. The boutique cruise line is the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation and the small ships are known for offering an intimate private yacht-style experience, unique itineraries and exclusive access to the world’s best small ports and hidden harbors. Windstar’s fleet is the market leader in boutique small ship cruising with a total of 1,242 passenger berths. All ships in the fleet have recently undergone multi-million dollar transformations to embody casually elegant small ship travel. The all-suite Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Pride serve 212 guests in all-suite accommodations; while sailing ships Wind Spirit and Wind Star sail with up to 148 guests, and Wind Surf serves 310 guests. The small ships cruise to hundreds of quaint and popular ports worldwide. Windstar Cruises is a part of Xanterra Parks & Resorts®, known for “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint.” Xanterra’s entities also include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks, as well as resorts, railway and tour companies. More information: www.windstarcruises.com.