The finalists of this year’s Seatrade Maritime Awards Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa have now been announced, representing some of the most respected names in the shipping and maritime industry.

The awards recognise the very best of maritime success from across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa and will take place on October 28, at Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, UAE.

The event will attract more than 700 industry leaders and government officials, said a statement from the organsiers.

Celebrating its 15th year, the awards are being held under the patronage of Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and chairman of Dubai Maritime City Authority and as part of UAE Maritime Week, it said.

Vanessa Stephens, Seatrade Global event director and managing director of Seatrade Middle East, said: “A big congratulations to our finalists. We have to thank Joe Brincat and his judging panel for the hard work and diligence that has enabled us to produce a list of finalists that reflect the spectrum of industry excellence across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa.”

“We remain proud of our totally independent judging process and commitment to ensure a fair representation of the efforts of the industry,” she said.

For this year’s event, two new awards have been introduced which include Shipyard of the Year and Maritime Services Award under the ‘Industry’ category and the Integration of Women in the Maritime Sector Award under the ‘Personality and Community’ category.

A new category, ‘Regional Focus’ recognises the best regional performers through the Africa Maritime Award and the Indian Subcontinent Maritime Award, it added.

According to a previous winner, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Al Khalifa, chairman, Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard (ASRY), said: “The awards are a benchmark for the industry – there is no question about it.”

“I’ve been attending the event for a number of years and you know when you receive an award from Seatrade, it’s an acknowledgement that you are up there with the best in the industry, and that you have done something positive for the industry,” he added.


The finalists are as follows:

•    Offshore Marine Award for Owners & Operators: CS Offshore DMCC; The Shipping Corporation of India.

•    Shipyard of the Year: Abu Dhabi Ship Building; Albwardy Damen; Drydocks World Dubai; NICO International.

•    Ship Agent Award: GAC Group; Inchcape Shipping Services; Kanoo Shipping; Sharaf Shipping Agency.

•    Port & Terminal Operator Award: Abu Dhabi Ports; Basra Gateway Terminal; DP World - UAE Region; Gulftainer; King Abdullah Port.

•    Contribution to Development of the Regional Maritime Cluster Award: Basra Gateway Terminal
DNV; Dubai Maritime City; Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST).

•    Shipping Company of the Year: Bahri; Maersk; Oman Shipping Company; The Shipping Corporation of India.

•    Maritime Logistics Award: Bahri; LogiPoint; Precious Shipping; The Shipping Corporation of India
Yacht International.

•    Maritime Services Award: Abu Dhabi Ports; Al Zahra Ship Operations and Management (Zara Maritime); Alphard Group; Fichte & Co; Ince & Co Middle East; Monjasa. – TradeArabia News Service