Vigor Marine Group Receives Signal Mutual Industry Safety Leadership Award
MHI Norfolk’s Larry Ryan named Operations Professional of the Year
Signal Mutual, the leading advocate for maritime safety in the U.S., has awarded Vigor Marine Group (VMG) its Industry Safety Leadership Award for 2024-25, and recognized Vigor Marine MHI Norfolk’s Larry Ryan as Operations Professional of the Year. The awards are reflective of VMG’s leading safety culture and values, deep commitment sending everyone home the same way they arrived, and strong safety record.
Signal Mutual’s safety awards place a heavy emphasis on fostering an effective culture, which Vigor Marine Group believes is critical to achieving the ultimate goal of zero safety incidents. Having a proactive mindset toward anticipating potential hazards and taking steps to address them prevents people from being injured in the first place, while serving to increase awareness among all employees.
Vigor Marine MHI Norfolk's Victor Brannon, Larry Ryan and Brian Holland receive Signal Mutual award. Safety is our top priority in everything we do and at all times,” said VMG CEO Francesco Valente. “Our employees embody our values of Truth, Responsibility, Evolution and Love when they are proactive about ensuring everyone who comes to our facilities does their work safely and looks out for those around them. This well-deserved recognition underscores that unwavering commitment and the great leadership of people like Larry.
Larry Ryan, Operational Risk Manager at Vigor Marine MHI Norfolk, is a leader among VMG employees. Larry has served on the VSRA Safety Committee and is a regular contributor to NAVSEA Standard Items meetings for the port. In his position at VMG MHI Norfolk, Larry has refined hot work coordination and work authorization and has led shipyard safety mitigations at the Norfolk facility. Larry is a testament to engagement for safety in all that he does in his role and is recognized universally in the port as a source of safety support.
VMG recently completed one of the best safety years in the history of the family of companies in 2025, with a Total Recordable Injury Rate under 2.0, well below industry average.
About Vigor Marine Group
Vigor Marine Group is a values-driven, established, differentiated solutions provider with a national footprint in marine maintenance and modernization, marine fabrication, and marine services. With operations in six locations, the family of companies employs 2,500 people in the Pacific Northwest, Virginia, California and Alaska. Our spirit of innovation and legacy of performance make Vigor Marine Group a preferred, full-service prime contractor in the defense and maritime sectors, offering advanced services and complete solutions for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, Military Sealift Command, state ferry systems, the cruise industry, the commercial fishing industry, and more. With deep respect for people and the planet, Vigor Marine Group strives to be a positive, regenerative force for good – environmentally, in the lives of its employees and in the community. For more information, visit vigormarine.comOpens in a new tab.
Benton Strong,
Director, Public Affairs