Drydocks

‘Best’ shipyard Asry honours customers

Winners of Asry’s awards for the best customers and agents of 2012 pose with their trophies

Asry (Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard) received a prestigious award at one ceremony and gave away its own prizes to its best clients and agents at another earlier one.

It was honoured as the Shipyard of the Year at the Lloyds List Middle East and Indian Subcontinent (MEIS) Awards at a gala dinner in Dubai. Asry’s awards party for its customers and agents was held at the historic Hotel Cipriani in Venice.

Judges for the Shipyard of the Year accolade recognised the yard’s resilience throughout challenging market conditions and ability to grow, improve and expand when competitors could not. Asry chairman, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, received the award.

Lloyds List says the award recognises a shipyard/shipbuilder that has consistently met the needs of its customers in recent times of tight capacity. Entries are judged based on the ability of the yard to offer cost-effective and quality services while keeping a keen eye on safety.

Asry had won the award in 2011. Its other awards include the Safety Award at last year’s Lloyds List MEIS Awards, Corporate Social Responsibility Award in the Seatrade MEIS Awards 2012 and similar awards from both the Seatrade MEIS Awards 2010 and Lloyds List Global Awards 2010.

 

VENICE PARTY

At the other ceremony in Venice, leading performers from among Asry’s customers and agents were hosted and given bespoke awards in a variety of categories by its management.

The Asry Awards for the Best Customers and Agents of 2012 was the fifth version of the annual ceremony designed to encourage long-term relationships with the shipyard and reward the loyalty of returning customers.

“The primary reason for this annual event,” said Asry chairman Shaikh Daij in his speech, “is to show our gratitude to all our stakeholders for the commitment and dedication you have shown Asry over the previous year  and that has allowed us to go from strength to strength.”

Nils Kristian Berge, the company’s acting chief executive, underlined the important values of the way Asry does business. “As we drive forwards,” Berge said, “I’m convinced that we maintain the fundamentals that have become synonymous with the Asry name – trust, fairness, and, above all, customer dedication. These values must underpin and inform all of our future success, because they are the foundations on which all our success is built. We are very fortunate that all our supporters have adopted these values and become ambassadors of the Asry way of doing business.”

The guests included the senior management of some of the global and regional shipping industries, among them Maersk Line, Kuwait Oil Tanker Company and UASC. The following were the top winners for Year 2012: Maersk Line Ltd, USA (Best International Customer); Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, Kuwait (Best Arab Customer); Zamil Offshore Services Co, Saudi Arabia (Best Slipway Customer); Vogler Marine Agencies, USA(Best Agent); Victoria Maritime  Services (Special Appreciation); Stolt Valor (Outstanding Project).