Maritime trade seeks industry's best

There are 23 categories for this year's Seatrade Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards to be staged at Al Johara Ballroom, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, on 8 October 2007. The high level, gala dinner event is expected to be attended by around 800 senior executives of the region's maritime industry.

For more than 20 years Seatrade has presented awards championing high standards and quality in shipping issues.

"The Seatrade Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards are designed to celebrate and reward excellence and innovation in the maritime sector across the region in the last year,"

said Christopher Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade.

"This must attend event has become a special occasion in the maritime industry calendar at which the key players gather to network and recognise innovation and achievement amongst peers."

A distinguished panel of independent judges has been assessing entries according to their contribution to the development of the maritime sector; innovation - technical, operational or commercial; commitment to safety and quality; social and environmental responsibility; business enterprise and achievement; and engagement with training and development of personnel.

The awards include a deal of the year; personality of the year; outstanding achievement; and lifetime achievement. The lifetime achievement award will honour an individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the shipping and maritime industry in the region.

Several Seatrade awards in the technical and operational categories are close to the heart of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The categories will be judged by, Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary-General of the IMO, and an expert panel of award judges. (A full list of judges is attached).

The full list of awards are: safety and quality; technical innovation; environmental protection; education and training; ship repair; port authority; marine insurance; ship manager; ship owner/operator; container terminal operator; tanker operator; bulk operator; marine and offshore services; ship finance; ship agent; classification society; workboats; oil and gas; maritime law; deal of the year; personality of the year; outstanding achievement; and lifetime achievement.

Lead sponsors of the Seatrade Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards are the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, DP World, DNV and Dubai Maritime City Authority. Other sponsors are: ABS, Drydocks World; Emirates Shipping Line; Gulf Energy Maritime; Hind Terminals; Holman Fenwick Willan; the National Iranian Tanker Company; Ras Laffan Industrial City; Seaport International Shipping Company; Topaz Energy and Marine; United Arab Shipping Company; and WhiteSea Shipping & Supply.

The awards coincide with the closing of the Middle East Money & Ships Conference, also organised by Seatrade, which concludes at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai, on 8 October 2009.

The conference, bringing together business leaders and senior professionals from maritime financiers, insurers, lawyers, banks and investors, ship owners, classification societies and regulators, will be examining how the region's maritime sector has been affected by the global financial crisis.