Judging panel for TMS Awards confirmed

A high quality judging panel has been assembled for the TMS Awards 2016, which takes place at The Atlantis, The Palm, on October 24th. Chaired by Clive Woodbridge, editor of The Maritime Standard (TMS), the panel includes leading executives in the container, bulk and tanker shipping industries, as well as senior figures in the ports industry across the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent, TMS said in a press release.

Trevor Pereira, The Maritime Standard, managing director, says, “We have been fortunate to have gained acceptance from some of the best known names in the business to be on the judging panel. The industry will I am sure trust in their judgment in determining worthy winners in all categories.”

The full list of judges is: Mohammed Ali Ahmed, COO, DP World; Angus Frew, secretary general  and CEO, BIMCO; Abdulrahman Essa Al-Mannai, president and  CEO, Milaha; Abdulkareem Mubarak Ahmed Al Masabi, chairman, Abu Dhabi Terminals; Andre Toet, CEO, Sohar Port; Captain B.B. Sinha, chairman and managing director, The Shipping Corporation of India; Tarik Al Junaidi, CEO, Oman Shipping Company; Rajiv Agarwal, CEO and managing director, Essar Port; Jorn Hinge, president and  CEO, United Arab Shipping Company; Koichi Murata, regional manager, ClassNK; Ali Shehab Ahmed, deputy chief executive, KOTC; Captain Brian Course, quality and compliance manager, Bahri and Captain Jitendra Misra, managing director, Emarat Maritime.

Mr. Pereira adds, “Work preparing for the Awards is now well underway. Nominations will open on June 1st and will close on 10th August. The judges will only judge categories allotted to them so there will be no conflict of interests. This will be a very independent, transparent process, as we want everyone to be assured that these Awards genuinely reward only the best in their fields.”

Finalists will be announced on 20th September. Mr. Pereira says, “I would urge people to book tables before finalists are announced as we find that when the announcement is made there is a rush for tables.” Tables will be made available on a first come first served basis. There will be limited space and the event is sure to sell out fast, the organisers said.

About The Maritime Standard
A subsidiary of Flagship Events, The Maritime Standard (TMS) publishes an innovative e-newsletter aimed specifically at the shipping and maritime community. It is delivered fortnightly, on the 1st and 15th of every month, and includes up-to-date news and analysis from the shipping and ports industries and related sectors. Topics that are covered include tanker, container, dry and liquid bulk, ro-ro, and cruise shipping; terminal operations; port development; classification; ship repair and conversion; shipbuilding; ship agency; finance and insurance; maritime law; and transportation & logistics. The Maritime Standard is edited by Clive Woodbridge, a journalist who has been writing about the maritime sector in the Middle East for over 20 years. Another division of parent Flagship Events, The Maritime Standard Events focuses specifically on the requirements of the shipping and maritime sector. The company organises a series of industry-leading events across the Middle East, including conferences and exhibitions. It also organises events for third parties in the shipping and ports business. The Maritime Standard Awards offers the industry a fabulous showcase, to highlight its many achievements. The first annual event, on November 6th 2014, was hosted by PR guru, Alistair Campbell, and the 2nd on 9th November 2015 by Dutch soccer legend, Ruud Gullitt.