Posted on November 2, 2026
Congratulations to our very own Melisa Pacheco for being a Marine Log 2026 Top Women in Maritime honoree!
Melisa Pacheco is a Project Engineer at Vard Marine’s Houston office, specializing in marine mechanical engineering, piping system design, and production engineering support. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering Technology from Texas A&M University at Galveston and has been contributing to Vard Marine projects since 2016 as an intern.
Melisa is a key member of the engineering team supporting the construction of a Jones Act-compliant Service Operation Vessel (SOV) at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding for the U.S. offshore wind market. In this role, she helps bridge European vessel design standards with North American shipyard practices, coordinating and reviewing engineering deliverables to support compliance with American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) classification requirements, International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations, and U.S. Coast Guard requirements.
Her project experience spans a diverse range of specialized vessels, including landing craft, polar icebreakers, large unmanned surface vehicles, and offshore service vessels. Her technical expertise encompasses machinery arrangements, marine equipment selection, piping system design and optimization, material specifications, and production engineering support. In 2024, she also served as Interim Quality Assurance Manager, overseeing quality initiatives and supporting quality system compliance across Vard Marine’s offices.
Combining hands-on engineering expertise with experience in quality management and cross-functional coordination, Melisa contributes to the integration and construction of advanced marine technology for the U.S. market. Her work supports efficient project execution, regulatory compliance, and the advancement of domestic shipbuilding capabilities for the growing offshore wind industry.
