The second annual Maritime Standard Awards took place on November 9, 2015 at Atlantis Ballroom, on The Palm. The ceremony hosted by world famous football star, Ruud Gullithas, brought together around 600 professionals from the shipping, ports and related sectors. The Awards celebrated and rewarded the achievements of individuals and companies active in the maritime sector in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent, Flagship Events' TMS said in a media release.
In total 16 awards were presented to individuals and companies following the deliberation of the judging panel.
There were also 9 special awards presented by the TMS team for particularly special achievements. Sheikh Talal Al Khaled Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Chief Executive Officer of the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), was presented with the coveted The Maritime Standard Personality of the Year Award, while His Excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem was given The Maritime Standard Hall of Fame Award for his contribution in developing Dubai’s ports sector. Zahid Rahman, vice president, business development, marine, Lloyds Register (LR), for the Middle East, Africa and Pakistan was presented with the Maritime Standard Lifetime Achievement Award for his role in making LR a powerful force within the shipping industry in the Middle East.
Other awards selected by The Maritime Standard included Jasmine Fichte who was the recipient of the Woman in Shipping award for her work within the maritime law field, and Abdullah Bin Damithan, from DP World, who secured the Young Person in Shipping Award. Andre Toet, chief executive of Sohar Port Corporation was given the TMS Editor's Choice Award, for his contribution to the Omani port; Dr. Ali Obaid Al-Yabhouni, the TMS Excellence in Shipping award in recognition his work at ADANTCO & NGSCO and OPEC; and the Suez Canal Authority scooped the Deal of the year for the financing of the Suez Canal widening project. There was also a special Legion of Honour Award to George Chapman who has worked in the ports sector in the UAE since the 1950s and made an important contribution over six decades.
Dubai-based Flagship Events is a specialist in organising shipping and maritime conferences, exhibitions and awards. The Maritime Standards Awards (since 2014) is recognised to be the biggest and most prestigious shipping awards covering the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent. The Maritime Standard (TMS) is a PR subsidiary of Flagship Events LLC.