New Canaan, CT — October 2026 — Each October, Moran’s iconic white “M”s turn pink across its fleet and facilities, creating a visible symbol of solidarity for the individuals, families, and working waterfront communities touched by breast cancer. Moran’s tradition of painting its vessels’ “M”s pink began in 2014, when a crewmember asked to display a pink “M” in honor of his wife. What began as a personal tribute grew into an effort across Moran, with crews participating each October.
Alongside the pink “M”s, employees also come together each year for Wear Pink Day. This year, more than 1,000 employees took part across the United States. From offices to waterfront locations, employees showed their support for those affected by breast cancer and helped bring awareness to a cause that touches so many families.
A Tradition That Came Full Circle
Behind each pink “M” is a personal connection to the cause. For Mate, Sean McAdams, that connection began long before he knew how personal it would become. Growing up in New Orleans, Sean was familiar with Moran’s pink “M” tradition well before he joined the company. Each October, he remembers seeing Moran tugboats travel along the river with their pink “M”s in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. His mother, who worked for years at a breast cancer center and was involved with Susan G. Komen, always admired the tradition and what it represented for the people and families affected by the disease. Sean grew up joining the annual walks and runs in New Orleans alongside his family, supporting survivors and their loved ones.
After graduating from Texas A&M Maritime Academy, Sean joined Moran, never imagining that the cause he had watched the company support for years would one day become personal.
In July 2026, at 31 years old, Sean was diagnosed with breast cancer. After undergoing a double mastectomy in August, physical therapy and completing 20 rounds of radiation, he is sharing his experience to encourage others, particularly men, to pay attention to changes in their bodies and seek medical advice.
About a year and a half before his cancer diagnosis, Sean noticed a lump in his chest. Imaging and a biopsy came back benign at the time. When the lump later grew and shifted, he didn’t ignore it. He sought another medical opinion at Ochsner, where further evaluation led to his breast cancer diagnosis. His experience reinforced the importance of paying attention to changes in your body and continuing to seek medical advice when something doesn't feel right.
“I was healthy, I was active, and I had no family history of breast cancer,” Sean explained. He never expected to face the disease himself.
While breast cancer is often thought of as a women's health issue, men can develop the disease, too. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 2,800 men in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026. Although male breast cancer is uncommon, Sean's experience highlights why awareness matters across the workforce, including the many men who work both ashore and afloat at Moran.
Sean hopes others take that message seriously. “The biggest thing is like, especially guys, if you feel a lump or something weird in your chest, don’t be afraid to go to the doctor and get checked,” Sean said. “Don’t just delay it and think it’s going to go away.”
Pink and Blue in Lake Charles
As Sean began treatment, the pink “M”s took on a new meaning. Crews in Lake Charles painted their “M”s pink and blue, the official colors of male breast cancer awareness, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in honor of Sean. One captain even had ribbons printed with Sean’s name to display alongside the painted marks.
For Sean, the gesture meant more than he could put into words. A tradition he had watched as a child had become a personal source of encouragement during one of the most challenging periods of his life.
“It made me feel so good during radiation treatment,” he said. “I was just like, ‘All right, I’m ready to knock this stuff out, ready to beat cancer and be done with this.’” Seeing that support from his crew and the company stuck with him. “When you see a big company actually do it, it’s like, okay, they really care about their employees,” he said.
Sean completed his final radiation treatment on October 19 and rang the bell at the cancer center, marking an important milestone in his journey.
As he looks ahead to his wedding in November, he hopes sharing his experience will help others feel more comfortable speaking up about their health and seeking support when they need it.
He was also grateful for the people he met during treatment and the connections he made along the way. Through the appointments, recovery and radiation, those relationships became part of the experience, giving him more people to lean on and reasons to keep moving forward.
His story is a reminder of why awareness matters beyond October. A pink “M” can spark a conversation, encourage someone to get a concerning change checked, or remind a colleague that they are not alone. For Sean, the tradition has come full circle: what once caught his attention on the waterfront has now helped carry him through his own experience.
Supporting Families Through the Ellie Fund
Moran’s commitment to supporting those affected by breast cancer extends beyond its own workforce. This October, Moran donated $10,000 to the Ellie Fund, a Massachusetts nonprofit that provides essential financial and emotional support to individuals and families navigating breast cancer treatment.
Together with additional contributions from employees, the donation is expected to fully fund six months of meals, childcare, transportation and housekeeping services for eight breast cancer patients, helping ease the everyday burdens that can accompany treatment and allowing patients and their families to focus on what matters most.
More Than a Mark on a Vessel
From crews painting their “M”s across Moran’s ports to employees wearing pink and coming together to support families through the Ellie Fund, these efforts reflect a shared commitment to showing up when it matters most.
For Sean, that commitment is no longer just a tradition he remembers from the Mississippi River. It is something he has experienced firsthand: in the colleagues who stood beside him, in the crews who painted their “M”s in his honor, and in the reminders throughout his treatment that he had a whole crew behind him.
A pink “M” may begin as a mark on a vessel, but its meaning reaches far beyond the waterfront. It represents the people behind it, the families affected by breast cancer and the power of a community that shows up for its own. Sometimes, a simple mark can do something meaningful: start a conversation, encourage someone to get checked or remind a colleague that they are never alone.
About the Ellie Fund
The Ellie Fund’s mission is to provide essential support services for breast cancer patients to ease the stresses of everyday life, allowing the focus to be on family, recovery, and healing.
For more information about the Ellie Fund, visit elliefund.org
About Moran
Founded in 1860, Moran is a marine services provider headquartered in New Canaan, Connecticut. The company provides marine transportation and related services, including environmental and industrial services, commercial diving and marine construction.