Costa Concordia Crew Named 'Seafarer of the Year' at Lloyd's List Global Awards 2012

The crew of Costa Concordia was named Seafarer of the Year by Lloyd’s Register of Ships at the Lloyd’s List Global Awards 2012 Wednesday night. The Global Awards are bestowed by the maritime registry in 14 categories, and winners are selected by a panel of 10 international shipping experts.

The awards ceremony was held at London’s Lancaster Hotel and was attended by international shipping industry leaders. The Seafarer of the Year Award 2012 was accepted by Costa Concordia crewmembers Sheila Canlas, assistant bar manager, and waitress Janice Aguda, who were joined by Pier Luigi Foschi, chairman of the board of Costa Crociere S.p.A.; Alessandro Centrone, vice president corporate human resources for Costa Crociere S.p.A.; Marlon Roño, president of Meranti Magsaysay Institute, and Alexandra Maxwell Cecala, head of innovation department of Meranti Magsaysay Institute. Meranti Magsaysay Institute is the leading human resource provider to the global cruise and hospitality industries that manages two Costa Cruises training schools, one in Indonesia and one in the Philippines.

In bestowing the Seafarer of the Year Award 2012 on Costa Concordia’s crew, Lloyd’s List editors wrote: “When the cruise ship Costa Concordia struck a reef off the island of Giglio on January 13, international attention inevitably focused on the actions of the master. But what was largely missed in the media storm that ensued were the genuine examples of bravery and professionalism displayed by members of the crew. There were 4,229 people on board the vessel at the time of the casualty and while the tragic loss of life caused by this regrettable incident will rightly be the subject of forensic investigations for some time to come, it should not be forgotten that without the skilled response of the majority of the crew, the loss of life could have been far higher.”

Lloyd’s Seafarer of the Year Award recognizes the skill, bravery and professionalism that the industry’s seafarers demonstrate on a daily basis. It’s addressed to crew of all ranks who have shown leadership, courage and vision while at sea over the past 12 months. Nominations come from individuals or shipping companies putting forward any member of the crew, from ratings to masters. The 2012 edition of the Seafarer of the Year Award was sponsored by Lloyd’s Register, one of the leading maritime classification societies in the world.

Lloyd’s List Global Awards are the shipping industry's most acclaimed, credible and well-supported awards. They are hosted annually by Lloyd’s List, and were created to recognize standards of excellence and achievement in the international maritime industry.