Nominations open for The Maritime Standard Awards 2019

Nominations open for The Maritime Standard Awards 2019

Nominations are now open for The Maritime Standard Awards 2019, which will take place at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai on Monday, October 21st. As always, the event will reward and recognise high achievers within the shipping and maritime sectors in a glittering, high quality ceremony attended by key decision makers from across the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent.

This is the sixth time that the Awards have been staged by The Maritime Standard to celebrate success, quality and innovation within the region’s maritime industry. It is expected around 29 different awards will be presented on the night, the majority of which will be selected by an eminent panel of independent judges. A full list of categories, and how to enter, can be found on the website: http://www.tmsawards.com/award-categories/

Nominations are invited from companies active in shipping, ports and other segments of the maritime market in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Clive Woodbridge, Editor of The Maritime Standard, and Chairman of the judging panel says, “We are expecting another record number of entries and, if last year is anything to go by, it will be extremely difficult to separate them. The level of quality and innovation in the region is at an all-time high and that is reflected in intense competition for all these awards.”

TMS Awards judging panel comprises several eminent executives, all renowned experts in their fields with many years of experience in various aspects of the maritime industry. The judges are drawn from across the region and independently assess the nominations and submit marks based on predetermined criteria to ensure a transparent and fair process.

This year The Maritime Standard is pleased to confirm that the judges will be: Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports; Abdullah Bin Damithan, Chief Commercial Officer, DP World; Capt. Abdulkareem Al Masabi, Chief Executive, ADNOC Logistics & Services; Ali Shehab, Acting CEO, Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC); Capt. Anoop Kumar Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director, The Shipping Corporation of India; Capt. Jitendra Misra, Managing Director, Emarat Maritime; Capt. S.R. Patnaik, Director and Chief Executive Officer, International Shipping and Logistics; Rajiv Agarwal, Managing Director and CEO of Essar Ports; Ruwan Waidyaratne, Chairman of CASA and Managing Director  of Hayley’s Advantis Limited and Clive Woodbridge, Editor, The Maritime Standard.

The deadline for submitting nominations is 9th August 2019. Clive Woodbridge adds: “Taking the time to put together a persuasive case for your company, while bearing in mind the criteria set out for each category, is vital. This year we are opening nominations a little earlier than we have in the past so please use that time wisely!”

The Maritime Standard (TMS), which is based in Dubai, publishes a regular e-newsletter aimed specifically at the shipping and maritime community. It is delivered fortnightly, on the 1st and 15th of every month, and provides accurate, up-to-date news about the market. Over the past few years the publication has built up the largest readership of any shipping-related online newsletter in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. It is also gaining popularity in other major shipping hubs, including Oslo, Hamburg, Singapore, London and Greece.

The newsletter includes news and analysis from the shipping and ports industries and related sectors in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Topics that are covered include tanker shipping, container operations, dry and liquid bulk trades, ro-ro, and cruise shipping. In addition, there is up to date information about regional terminal operations; port development; classification; ship repair and conversion; shipbuilding; ship agency; finance and insurance; maritime law; and transportation & logistics. The newsletter, which celebrated the publication of its 100th edition in 2018, regularly carries exclusives, analysis and interviews with top executives, and there are plans to include a special section on recent and forthcoming events, the industry’s ‘movers and shakers’ and other personality-led news.

TMS publishes the very successful TMS UAE Yearbook. The third volume covering 2018/19 was launched in July last year and the 2019/20 edition is all set to be unveiled in June 2019 at NorShippinhg in Oslo. Around 5000 copies are printed and distributed worldwide and have a high profile at partner maritime events, such as Posidonia, SMM, Norshipping, Dubai International Boat Show, Offshore Arabia and many more. The UAE’s Federal Transport Authority also takes the Yearbook with them to the events that they take part in and host over the year, as well as having copies on display at its headquarter in Abu Dhabi.

Covering key developments across the country’s maritime sector, the annual publication aims to publicise the UAE’s achievements both locally and internationally, through in-depth articles, researched first hand. These cover all the major sectors of the shipping, ports and maritime industry in the UAE. The articles, on terminals, shipping companies, shipyards, maritime law firms, classification, regulators and inland transport firms, among others, have been well received by the industry as a year-round reference point. The Maritime Standard UAE Yearbook is a must-read publication for everyone interested in UAE maritime issues.

The not-to-be missed The Maritime Standard Awards recognise and celebrate success in the shipping, ports and related sectors across the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. The sixth edition of TMS Awards will take place on Monday, 21st October 2019 at Atlantis, the Palm, Dubai.

These are the only Awards of their kind that represent all sectors within the maritime and shipping industries, a factor that has been evident since their inception. They are in particular the only Awards where all the major shipowners and operators from across the region are represented, something that TMS is extremely proud of.

The Awards are now firmly positioned as one of the world’s leading shipping and maritime Awards gala dinners and are the premier event of their kind in the region. All of the five events to date have been held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and have each attracted close to 700 of the region’s elite shipping and maritime professionals, as well as a number of leading figures from overseas. These guests have come from a variety of industry segments, ranging from ports and terminal operators to ship owners and managers. Top executives from the worlds of maritime law and finance, classification, ship building and repair and maritime education and training are also in attendance, creating unrivalled networking opportunities.

All of the events have had distinguished master of ceremonies. Past MCs have included Alastair Campbell, Ruud Gullit, Jim Clancy, Lara Dutta and Tim Wilcox. The 2019 event will be hosted by a personality of equivalent caliber.

The 2018 TMS Awards saw 20 general awards presented, in line with the recommendations of an elite, independent judging panel, as well as a number for special individual awards recognising the contributions made by high profile industry leaders and innovators. The Awards have set a benchmark within the industry and have become an eagerly anticipated meeting place for top executives from across the market, as well as an opportunity to reward and recognise achievement at the highest level. The fourth Maritime Standard Tanker Conference will be held on the 22nd October 2019 at the Taj Hotel, Dubai. Attendees will include key decision makers and opinion formers who will be able to discuss the challenges and opportunities that exist, not just for ship owners and operators active in the tanker markets, but those delivering products and services to this sector of the shipping industry. The third TMS Tanker Conference took place on 16th October 2018 and was held for the first time at the Atlantis. The larger venue allowed for a record-breaking attendance of over 250 delegates. Presentations were given by many of the region’s leading tanker owners and operators, as well as experts in related fields. High level delegations from ADNOC Logistics & Services, Bahri, KOTC, Oman Shipping, E-Ships, Shipping Corporation of India, Emarat Maritime and other leading players were present which include Dubai Maritime City Authority, Saifee Trading Est, JOME Engineering, DP World, DNV GL, Maritime Strategies International, LUKOIL Marine Lubricants, Marlink, Department of Seaports & Customs, Sharjah, Essar Ports, Dubai Trading Agency Group, Dubai Maritime City, etc. The event for the first time also received support from the leading industry body Intertanko, with chairman Nikolas Tsakos giving a keynote presentation.

The fourth Maritime Standard Tanker Conference will be held on the 22nd October 2019 at the Atlantis, the Palm, Dubai. Attendees will include key decision makers and opinion formers who will be able to discuss the challenges and opportunities that exist, not just for ship owners and operators active in the tanker markets, but those delivering products and services to this sector of the shipping industry. The third TMS Tanker Conference took place on 16th October 2018 and was held for the first time at the Atlantis. The larger venue allowed for a record-breaking attendance of over 250 delegates. Presentations were given by many of the region’s leading tanker owners and operators, as well as experts in related fields. High level delegations from ADNOC Logistics & Services, Bahri, KOTC, Oman Shipping, E-Ships, Shipping Corporation of India, Emarat Maritime and other leading players were present which include Dubai Maritime City Authority, Saifee Trading Est, JOME Engineering, DP World, DNV GL, Maritime Strategies International, LUKOIL Marine Lubricants, Marlink, Department of Seaports & Customs, Sharjah, Essar Ports, Dubai Trading Agency Group, Dubai Maritime City, etc. The event for the first time also received support from the leading industry body Intertanko, with chairman Nikolas Tsakos giving a keynote presentation.

The fifth The Maritime Standard Ship Finance and Trade Conference will be held on the 6^th November 2019 at Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche. The Conference brings together experts from the fields of shipping, ports, banking, finance, trade and maritime law, among others, to discuss and debate the key issues and trends facing the shipping business, and trade, in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. The fourth TMS Ship Finance and Trade Conference took place at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort, on November 6th, 2018, building on the success of the previous three events. Speakers from various sectors shared their insights and knowledge through a series of presentations and panel discussions, illuminating the way forward. One of the highlights was a special ‘up close’ interview session with Hyperloop Transportation chairman, Bibop Gresta, and Sanjay Mehta who heads up S One Capital.