Benjamin Moll ’11

Major at MMA: SVO
Employer: Poling & Cutler Marine Transportation

Where has your career taken you since graduation?

My career has taken me from the Gulf of Mexico to the Northeast and a few places in between. I’ve been with five companies, and worked on Tugs and OSVs of various sizes.

What is your current title and what are your responsibilities?

I’m the Master of the tug Evelyn Cutler, moving clean oil in New York Harbor, the Hudson River, and Long Island Sound. In addition to steering the tug and our barge for twelve hours a day, I manage and oversee the general operation of the vessel. This includes safety training, maintenance projects both large and small, voyage planning, administrative tasks, and crew endurance.

What piece of advice would you give to a student going into your field?

You have two paths to take in this industry: the one of relative comfort, steady employment, and slow advancement; or the one that involves eating a lot of crap sandwiches and always looking for the next job to add a crucial type of experience to your resume. Either way, unless you find yourself truly out of your depth, never turn down a promotion.

How did the MMA experience prepare you for both your prior positions and your current career focus?

Being left to my own devices to find co-op jobs, and forging my own industry connections provided one of the most valuable experiences for the real job search later in life. The quality of the hands-on instruction and lab time in classes like tug and barge, auxiliary sail, and bridge resource management left a lasting impression with me.

What are your goals for the future?

To continue to operate my vessel safety and efficiently, as well as help the next generation of Mariners in anyway I can.