The election by the board of directors of Nicholas Bachko as vice-president of the Department of Corporate Planning and Development of the United States Lines was announced by John J. McMullen, president of the steamship company.
In his new position, Mr. Bachko will be in charge of formulating for management long-range plans for developing and expanding the company's activities in ocean as well as intermodal systems of transportation. His responsibilities will continue to include supervision of the company's vessel replacement program as well as coordination of activities related to the company's current transition into containerization.
Mr. Bachko was graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1942 and served as an engineer aboard United States Lines' ships during World War II before joining the shore establishment of the company in 1945 as port engineer.
In 1948, he was selected to serve as resident engineer for the company, in charge of construction of the superliner United States in Newport News, Va., and was principal liaison for the company with the Maritime Administration, the shipyard and the designer during the three-year building period of the superliner.
When United States Lines began its huge vessel replacement program in 1962, Mr. Bachko was named manager of new construction and helped to plan and design the company's new fleet of high-speed cargo liners. He also played a major role in designing the characteristics of six full containerliners, four of which joined the company fleet last year and two of which will be completed early this year.