20 October 2015

Individuals, organisations and companies from across the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent maritime and shipping industry have been honoured at the annual Seatrade Maritime Awards in Dubai, held under the patronage of His Excellency Sultan bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Chairman of Dubai Maritime City Authority.

Hosted by international broadcaster, Stephen Marney, with a guest personality appearance from Ex-F1 winner, Damon Hill, the Seatrade awards programme is widely recognised as the region's premier maritime awards.

The dinner ceremony, which took place in the Joharah Ballroom at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, in front of more than 700 guests was a celebration to recognise excellence in all areas of maritime activity across the Middle East and beyond.

Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, started the evening's proceedings by saying: "When we introduced this Awards programme back in 2003, this region had aspiration to become a major global centre for the maritime industries. That aspiration is now a substantial reality and many of the individuals and organisations who have contributed to this transformation are present here this evening.  

"In the past year this region has continued to progress as a centre for  world class shipping companies, with a network of ports and terminals that is state of the art, and the world's biggest concentration of ship repair expertise.  Its maritime service sector is heading in new and exciting directions. Its offshore marine industry is coping well with a challenging market environment.

In the wider Middle East, this year has seen the completion, exactly on schedule and in just one year, of the New Suez Canal, an achievement on a tight timetable which has been described by the International Chamber of Shipping as 'simply astonishing'."

Over the course of the evening, 25 awards were announced, which included individual special awards.  All the awards remained a secret until the unveiling on the night.

The following winners have been announced.

  • Contribution to the Development of the Regional Maritime Cluster Award: DP World UAE Region

  • The Safety and Quality Award: Topaz Energy & Marine

  • The Environmental Responsibility Award: United Arab Shipping Company (S.A.G)

  • The Education and Training Award: DP World UAE Region

  • The Technical Innovation Award: Lukoil Marine Lubricants DMCC

  • The Corporate Social Responsibility Award: DP World

  • The Offshore Marine Development - Africa Award: Seacor Offshore Dubai LLC - Africa

  • The Port & Container Terminal Development Award: ENL Consortium Ltd

  • Regional Cruise Development Award: Abu Dhabi Ports

  • The Offshore Marine Award for Owners & Operators: Halul Offshore Services W.L.L

  • The Container Terminal Operator Award: DP World UAE Region

  • The Marine Insurance Award: The New India Assurance Co. Ltd

  • The Ship Repair Innovation Award: Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM)

  • The Port Authority Award: DP World UAE Region

  • The Ship Agent Award: GAC Group

  • The Maritime Law Award: Fichte & Co Legal Consultancy

  • Seatrade Deal of the Year Award: Standard Chartered Bank for the Topaz Facility Deal

  • Shipping Company of the Year Award: United Arab Shipping Company (S.A.G)

  • Seatrade Young Person of the Year Award: Ms Suha Abdulla Obaid, Folk Shipping

  • Business Innovation Award: Col. Rasheed Al Hebsi, CEO, Emirates Classification Society (TASNEEF)

  • Regional Development Award: Captain Mohammed Juma Al Shamisi, Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi Ports

  • The Maritime Thought Leader of the Year Award: H.E Sheikh Talal Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, Chief Executive Officer, Kuwait Oil Tanker Company

  • Seatrade Outstanding Achievement Award: Arab Republic of Egypt

  • Seatrade Personality of the Year Award: H.E Dr Nabeel Al-Almudi, Chairman, United Arab Shipping Company and President of Saudi Ports Authority

  • Seatrade Maritime Industry Award: His Excellency Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa, Chairman, Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY)

    -Ends-

    For more information and event updates, contact Emma Howell, Head of Marketing, Middle East, Seatrade. Tel: +44 1206 545121 or log on to www.seatrade-middleeastawards.com

    About Seatrade
    Seatrade provides a range of global events, websites and publications that covers every aspect of the cruise and maritime industries, bringing together key people to encourage innovation and to produce powerful learning, networking and promotional platforms. 

    Founded in 1970, Seatrade was acquired in 2014 by UBM, the world's second largest media and event organiser.  Seatrade sits with the UBM EMEA, which connects people and creates opportunities for companies to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote brands and expand markets.

    Operating in over 23 countries, UBM EMEA organizes many of the world's largest, most important exhibitions, conferences, awards, directories, websites and publications in a wide variety of industries.

    For full details about this event, visit: www.seatrade-middleeastawards.com

    Find out more about Seatrade and UBM, Visit www.seatrade-maritime.com and UBM EMEA

    For more information:
    Jack Dulka
    Account Support Manager
    Shamal Marketing Communications
    Dubai Media City, UAE
    Office: +971 4 365 2711
    Mobile: +971 50 552 9104
    E-mail: jack@smc-pr.com

    • © Press Release 2015