Top Global Maritime Awards Announces Judging Panel for 2014

The organisers of the 26th Seatrade Awards taking place at London’s Guildhall on 14 April 2014, have announced the esteemed judging panel to preside over the awards entries, chaired by IMO Secretary-General, Koji Sekimizu.

The recognition scheme is regarded as one of the highest accolades in the maritime calendar and entries are now being submitted for the 2014 awards – companies have until 6 December to make their entries at www.seatrade-awards.com.

The 2014 Award categories will be:

• Safety at Sea - Sponsored by Lloyd's Register
• Clean Shipping - Sponsored by ABS
• Innovation in Ship Operations
• Investment in People
• Seatrade Lifetime Achievement Award 2014* - Sponsored by Oman Drydock Company
• Seatrade Personality 2014* - Sponsored by ClassNK
• Seatrade Global Performer 2014*
• Seatrade Young Person in Shipping 2014*
• IMO Themed Award "IMO Conventions: Effective Implementation"
• Seatrade Award for Countering Piracy 2014

The finalists will be announced after the first round of judging in February 2014.

This year’s judging panel will be:

Chairman: Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General, IMO

Judges:
• The Rt. Hon. The Lord Clinton-Davis, PC, Former Chairman, Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS)
• Mr John Denholm, President, Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO)
• Mr Pierfrancesco Vago, Vice Chairman, Cruise Lines International Association Europe (CLIA)
• Dr John Coustas, Chairman, Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA)
• Mr Roberto Cazzulo, Chairman, International Association of Classification Societies (IACS)
• Mr Masamichi Morooka, Chairman, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)
• Mr John Platsidakis, Chairman, International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO)
• Chairman, International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO)
• Capt David Cotterell, Director, Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF)

Almost four hundred members of the maritime community celebrated the outstanding contributions at the 2013 awards for safe, efficient and environmentally friendly shipping. Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General of the IMO concluded the evening by saying “ Seatrade had the foresight to launch the awards 25 years ago, allowing it to grow to the unique event it is today that we all enjoy. The Seatrade Awards reflect the issues we see throughout the industry today and the industry’s future is one of community, united nations coming together to achieve our goals. It is important we all continue to work together to generate a future development agenda.”

In keeping with the non-profit making motives of the Seatrade Awards scheme, Seatrade will make a donation from the proceeds to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and The Mission to Seafarers.