Final countdown to Dubai International Maritime Awards entry deadline

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The awards recognise top achievers working to improve maritime standards within West and Central Asia. The deadline is 31 October 2006.

'The Seatrade DIMAs have been established as the premier regional maritime awards and are fitting accolades for those excelling within the industry,' said Christopher Hayman, Managing Director, Seatrade.

'The 2006 awards look set to host a record number of entries with several new categories receiving very encouraging responses.'

Hayman continues: 'The Seatrade DIMAs continue Seatrade's heritage of independence and fairness. The London-based Seatrade Awards scheme is already well known in the international maritime community and its quality and prestige is reflected in its younger regional equivalent, the DIMAs.'

Short-listed entrants will be invited to attend the Gala Presentation Dinner at Grand Hyatt Dubai on Monday 4 December. The dinner is scheduled to coincide with Seatrade Middle East Maritime (SMEM) 2006, the region's premier exhibition and conference for the maritime sector, which will run at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 4-6 December.

'Local, regional and international entries are invited to enter or nominate but the product or service for submission must either have originated, or be shown to have directly benefited maritime activity, within West and Central Asia,' explains Hayman. 'Entries and nominations can be made completely free of charge.'

The Seatrade DIMAs open for entry cover the following categories: Safety and Quality in Shipping; Technical Innovation, Environmental Protection, and Education & Training.

The award for Safety and Quality in Shipping, sponsored by Dubai Drydocks, credits significant technical or procedural improvements leading to risk reduction of life at sea. Sponsored by Vela International Marine Ltd, the Technical Innovation award recognises a project within the realm of improving ship operations and/or cargo handling efficiency.

The Environmental Protection category, sponsored by ABS, honours new technology or significant improvements to existing technology reducing, preventing, or assisting the clean-up of marine and atmospheric pollution. The category Education and Training, sponsored by Lloyd's Register, identifies exceptional initiative which enhances standards in shipping through education and training in the region.

Seatrade DIMAs open for nominations cover the following nine categories: Ship Finance, Shipbuilding & Repair, Dry Bulk Shipping, Container Operations, Energy Transportation, Port & Terminal Operations, and Maritime Services.

All entries should be submitted online at www.seatrade-global.com/DIMA/da1.html and completed forms can be emailed to the DIMA Secretariat at dima@seatrade-global.com.

The Awards judging panel consists of International Maritime Organisation Secretary General Rear Admiral Efthimios Mitropoulos; Captain Duncan McKelvie, Chairman of the Nautical Institute UAE Branch; Captain Jitendra Misra, Chairman, Chartered Institute of Shipbrokers and Tony Muncer, Chairman, Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology, UAE.

The awards - principally sponsored by Gulf Energy Maritime and National Shipping Council of Saudi Arabia - also include a nominated Seatrade Personality of the Year for West and Central Asia - awarded last year to Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman, Dubai World. There is also a nominated Dubai Cruise Award, sponsored by the Government of Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing.

Other sponsors include Charter Trade Global LLC; Det Norske Veritas; EHS; GAC; Jadaf Dubai; and National Iranian Tanker Company. The scheme is fully supported and endorsed by DP World and Dubai Maritime City.

In keeping with the non-profit making motives of the scheme, a donation from the proceeds of the dinner will be made to The Mission to Seafarers.

SMEM 2006 is being held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and is the region's leading maritime event, exhibiting more than 250 companies from around the world.