Awards News

Shipping has entered a Maritime 5.0 world defined by rapid change, artificial intelligence, advanced fuels, and digital ecosystems, where decisive leadership is critical for success.That was the message to the industry from ABS Chairman and Chief Executive Christopher J. Wiernicki in a keynote address at the North American Marine Environment Protection (NAMEPA) Awards at SUNY Maritime College.“In this new era, change and technology will dominate our conversations, our strategies, and our decisions. The pace is accelerating, the stakes are rising, and the complexity is deepening.

igus, a leading global manufacturer of motion plastics, was presented with the “Maritime Innovator of the Year” award for its igus Mobile Shore Power Outlet (iMSPO) family of products. The honor was bestowed on October 7 during the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) conference held in Quebec. The igus Mobile Shore Power Outlet (iMSPO) is designed to overcome the infrastructure limitations and evolving operational challenges facing modern ports. As shipping alliances shift and vessel sizes increase…

The United Seamen’s Service (USS) announced that the 56th annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Awards will honor three champions of American maritime: Captain Willie Barrere, National President of American Maritime Officers; Edward F. Hanley, Chief Operating Officer of Maersk Line, Limited and Vincent J. Marino, Chief Executive Officer of CMC-ITI-CCS.A Special Recognition plaque will be presented to Edward R. Morgan in honor of his extraordinary leadership as President of USS. Serving in this role for more than 20 years, Mr.

On Wednesday, August 6, 2025 the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) presented Captain (Aqeed) Ahmed Al Badi, Head of the Oman National Hydrographic Office (ONHO), with the Alexander Dalrymple Award for 2025. The award recognizes his services to hydrography. Captain Ahmed Al Badi was invited to the UKHO where he was presented with this year’s award. Hosted by the UK’s National Hydrographer and Director of Data Acquisition and Defence, Rear Admiral Angus Essenhigh OBE, the presentation was attended by members of the wider UKHO team…

Conrad Shipyard won the Western Dredging Association (WEDA) Safety Excellence Award in the Dredging Trade Partner category, a recognition that highlights Conrad's commitment to safety, operational excellence, and its partnership with the U.S. dredging industry. Presented late last month during the 2025 WEDA Annual Dredging Summit & Expo, it celebrates companies who demonstrate outstanding safety performance and continuous improvement in protecting personnel, property, and the environment.

Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a leader in unmanned surface vehicle (USV) technology, has announced its selection as one of ten winners of the U.S. Joint Staff J7 Warfighting Lab Incentive Fund (WLIF) for Fiscal Year 2026. Out of more than 150 submissions, MARTAC was chosen for its forward-thinking capabilities and significant contributions to future warfighting concepts.This recognition marks a milestone for MARTAC as it continues to redefine the maritime battlespace with autonomous platforms that excel in versatility, performance, and operational resilience.

Dr. Rosalie Balkin, Secretary-General of the Comité Maritime International (CMI) and former Director of Legal Affairs and External Relations Division at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has been named the recipient of the International Maritime Prize for 2024. The decision was announced today by the IMO Council during its 134th session (July 7-11). Nominated by the Government of Australia, Dr Balkin was recognized for her contributions to international maritime law over a career spanning more than 50 years.

The Chamber of Shipping of America has recognized 57 Crowley-owned or -managed vessels with its Jones F. Devlin Safety Awards, honoring the achievements and hard work of crews that together completed a total of 478 years without a lost time injury.The Jones F. Devlin Safety Award honors the commitment of people and companies responsible for long-term operational safety, recognizing vessels that have operated for at least two consecutive years without a crew member losing time due to injury.

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier LNG Barka, operated and managed by an NYK Group company, along with the bulk carrier Lily Fortune, operated by NYK, was honored with the "Best Quality Ship 2024" award sponsored by the Japan Federation of Pilots' Associations. The award ceremony took place on June 26, 2025. Notably, among the approximately 24,000 vessels evaluated in fiscal year 2024, the NYK Group had two of the nine award-winning ships.The award was established in 2003 to promote safe vessel operation and the protection of ports and the marine environment.

ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki was honored by The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI), receiving the 2025 Silver Bell Award for lifelong service and outstanding leadership in the maritime industry.SCI is a nearly 200-year-old charity headquartered in New York that serves and protects the personal and professional lives of mariners and seafarers, both internationally and domestically, by partnering with the maritime industry to ensure dignity within the workplace and…

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair industry, announced its annual member safety awards for the 2024 calendar year. This year, 14 shipyards are receiving awards for their achievements in safety. The shipbuilding industry continues to improve on safety metrics year after year. This commitment to safety has allowed U.S. shipyards to address and adapt their continuing operations to any obstacles that arose throughout the year.To qualify for an SCA Safety Award…

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair industry, announced that Conrad Industries, Inc., parent company of Conrad Shipyard, received SCA’s annual “Excellence in Safety” Award, which is given for performance for the 2024 calendar year, honoring the shipyard for its enhancement of operations and promotion of safety and accident prevention.Recognized for its ongoing efforts to enhance workplace safety…

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair industry, announced that Conrad Industries, Inc., parent company of Conrad Shipyard, received SCA’s annual “Excellence in Safety” Award for performance for the 2024 calendar year.Recognized for its ongoing efforts to enhance workplace safety, Conrad Shipyard is one of 14 shipyards recognized for advancing employee protection standards across the shipbuilding industry.Over the past decade…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced it has been awarded a 2024 AEU Safety Award for the company’s commitment to safety in the workplace.The American Equity Underwriters, Inc., the leading provider of workers’ compensation for waterfront employers, presents the AEU Safety Awards each year to its best performing members nationwide. Eligibility for the awards is based on the frequency and severity of workers’ compensation incidents for the prior calendar year, as well as safety-related metrics determined by AEU’s loss control team.

Bardex Corp. is pleased to announce that the Offshore Technology Conference has awarded Daniel Toerner a spot in its 2025 Emerging Leaders class. Each year, the OTC recognizes up-and-coming professionals whose work in the energy industry demonstrates the kind of talent and commitment that puts them on a course toward being future leaders in the offshore energy sector. Each recipient of the award, who has been in the industry for fewer than 10 years, is selected by the previous year’s class.Toerner, who earned a B.S.

Hayley Williams, Curriculum Development Manager at Pembrokeshire College, has been recognized for her contribution to Wales’ marine energy sector.Ms Williams was announced as the recipient of the second ever ‘Ysbryd Y Môr’ award at the annual Marine Energy Wales conference in Cardiff.‘Ysbryd Y Môr’ meaning ‘Spirit of the Sea’ is an award established by Marine Energy Wales to celebrate individuals or entities whose passion, commitment and vision have been a driving force behind…

Two Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport engineers have won American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) awards for 2024. Michael Connelly, technical project manager for the Undersea Warfare Platforms and Payload Integration Department, is the winner of the Frank C. Jones Award, and Dr. Thomas Ramotowski, a senior chemist for the Sensors and Sonar Systems Department, is the winner of the Solberg Award.The Frank C. Jones Award recognizes naval engineering professionals…

AEGIR-Marine won the Schuttevaer Award 2025 in recognition for its pioneering techniques of remanufacturing in the maritime industry. This has involved AEGIR-Marine’s establishment of the Maritime Remanufacturing Network which aims to accelerate sustainability in the maritime industry. The award was presented during the Schuttevaer Expo, a maritime knowledge sharing and networking event held at RDM Rotterdam, theNetherlands and organized by the Dutch media outlet Schuttevaer.The…

Bardex, a global leader in products and engineering services that tackle marine-based challenges, is honored to be a Ventus Award finalist. The awards, in eleven categories, recognize and celebrate people and products that advance the feasibility and adoption of offshore wind and other ocean renewables. Bardex was selected as one of four finalists in the Health, Safety & Environment category for its proprietary OmniCrane, which, among its benefits, virtually eliminates the risk…

The Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC), under the command of Capt. Michael Chien, has won the Commodore Viggo C. Bertelsen Jr. and Vice Admiral John P. Currier Auxiliary Integration Award in the category of Applied Innovation. The award was presented by Commander Steven Koch, who leads the Auxiliary (AUX) in New England, at a command all hands. The Auxiliary is the 25,000-member volunteer organization supporting the Coast Guard across 11 missions.Regional Auxiliary Commodore Michael West noted…

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, won the 2023 International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) Award for Innovation and Technology in Maritime Search and Rescue after a highly respected judging panel led by former IMRF Chair Michael Vlasto selected its entry from a shortlist of 10 individuals and organisations.Acknowledging “volunteer and professional search-and-rescue (SAR) personnel from around the world”, the prestigious award highlights “those who have shown excellence in their field…

Mobile satellite communications specialist Inmarsat’s Fleet Hotspot has won the Mission to Seafarers Innovation Award at the Seafarers Awards Singapore 2022.Presented in a ceremony at the Regent Singapore hotel on 6 October, the award recognises Inmarsat for its outstanding contribution to crew welfare."With the well-being of seafarers under heightened scrutiny since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing crew-change crisis, recent amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 have made crew connectivity a requirement for shipowners.

Conrad Shipyard, LLC, said it has been awarded a 2021 AEU Safety Award for the company’s strong commitment to safety in the workplace.The American Equity Underwriters, Inc., the leading provider of workers’ compensation for waterfront employers, presents the AEU Safety Awards each year to its best performing members nationwide.“We are proud to receive this prestigious award which honors Conrad’s commitment to safety,” said Conrad’s CEO, Johnny Conrad. “This award is a testament to the dedication of our employees at every level to our safety program.”Eligibility for the awards is based on the frequency and severity of workers’ compensation incidents for the prior calendar year, as well as safety-related metrics determined by AEU’s loss control team.