Capt. Rick Iuliucci Retires From Vane Brothers

Vane Brothers, a Jones Act marine transportation provider, announced several leadership changes May 7.

Capt. Rick Iuliucci, vice president of operations, is retiring effective July 1. In a related move, the company is promoting three professionals into key leadership positions.

An change of command ceremony will take place June 1. At that time, Brendan MacGillivray assumes the role of Vane Brothers’ chief operations officer (COO), at the head of a team that includes Captain Brian Rau in the new position of vice president, operations–east, and John Shkor as vice president, regulatory compliance and health, safety, security and the environment (HSSE). Together, MacGillivray, Rau and Shkor have more than 70 years of combined industry experience.

Founded in 1898, Vane Brothers operates along the U.S. East, West and Gulf coasts and in the Great Lakes region. Headquartered in Baltimore, Md., the company provides a wide range of functions, including bunkering, launch services and safety equipment inspection, operating nearly 50 tugboats and 80 barges.

“When I first started in the maritime industry 47 years ago, I never imagined how much this career would shape my life,” Iuliucci said. “What began as a job became a calling — one built on responsibility, teamwork and respect for the sea. Over the years, I’ve witnessed tremendous change in our industry, but one thing has remained the same: the dedication of the people who make it work. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside professionals who took pride in doing things the right way — safely, reliably and with integrity.  Any success I’ve had was never mine alone. It belonged to the crews, colleagues and leaders who trusted me, challenged me and supported me along the way. I’m grateful for those lessons, those friendships and the shared commitment to excellence. As I step away, I do so with pride, gratitude and confidence in the future of this industry. The maritime world is in good hands. Thank you to everyone who’s been part of my journey. It’s been an honor.”

Iuliucci has been a mainstay of the U.S. tugboat and barge industry for 47 years, the last 19 with Vane Brothers. Since 2018, when he became vice president of operations, the company has expanded to the West Coast and Great Lakes region, added more than two dozen vessels and achieved full Subchapter M compliance across the entire tugboat fleet.

Within the industry, Iuliucci has been a leader at the regional and national levels. His service included a stint as chairman of the board for The American Waterways Operators (AWO), helping to advance industry advocacy and collaboration.

Iuliucci attended the Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. He has had extensive experience in lightering operations conducted in the Delaware Bay and the offshore waters of the United Sates East Coast and Gulf Coast. He has attended and participated in various professional and educational certificated courses including the United States Coast Guard Federal on Scene Crisis Commander, the Executive course provided by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and Cornell University’s Industrial Labor Relations School.

“Capt. Iuliucci has made an enormous impact on the tugboat and barge industry over five decades of maritime service,” Vane Brothers President C. Duff Hughes said. “His success has been rooted in a tireless work ethic, a thorough understanding of the industry’s essential role in the nation’s economy, a positive spirit and — above all — a genuine concern for the safety and well-being of mariners. It is with immense gratitude that I wish Capt. Iuliucci every happiness as he transitions into retirement.”

Promotions At Vane Brothers

Iuliucci’s departure provided an opportunity for Vane Brothers to “draw upon tremendous talent cultivated within the organization,” the company said in a news release. “We have a deep bench of highly skilled and experienced maritime professionals at the ready to provide peak service continuity for our industry partners,” Hughes said.

“Within the Vane Brothers organization, we have several highly regarded and incredibly experienced experts in their fields who are fully prepared to step right into senior positions with the company,” MacGillivray said. “Our dedicated team of skilled and respected professionals will build on Rick’s legacy and lead Vane Brothers forward for years to come.”

MacGillivray, the new COO, joined the company in 2011 after beginning his maritime career as a licensed mariner in the 1990s and later managing a tug and barge operation headquartered in Rhode Island. He initially served Vane Brothers as a New York-based port captain before moving into the role of sales and marketing manager. He was promoted to vice president of chartering and scheduling in 2020.

Rau, vice president, operations–east, is a 1999 graduate of SUNY Maritime College who sailed on wire boats and ATBs until 2007. After transitioning ashore to manage operations for another tug and barge company, he joined Vane Brothers in 2013, serving as a vessel supervisor, a port captain and, most recently, general manager of the company’s New York operations.

Shkor, vice president-regulatory compliance and HSSE, has worked in the maritime industry for two decades. He came to Vane Brothers in 2009, gaining both deck and engineroom experience before shifting shoreside in 2012 to become a health, safety and environmental officer. He was promoted to HSE regional manager in 2019 and then departmental manager two years later.