Winners announced at Lloyd’s List’s Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards 2010

MOHAMMAD Hossein Dajmar, chief executive of Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line, the Iranian container line hit hard by sanctions against its home country, walked away with Lloyd’s List’s Newsmaker of the Year Award at the Lloyd’s List Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards last night.

IRISL has been targeted for sanctions by the United Nations, the European Union, the US, UK and P&I centre Bermuda, as well as other entities and countries, in an effort to penalise the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Those governments and entities believe that Iran is intent on developing nuclear weapons, a charge that President Ahmadinejad denies.

The Newsmaker award is granted by Lloyd’s List’s editors in recognition of a person or a company in shipping that has been in the centre of the news.

In Mr Dajmar’s case, the award emphasises how today’s political reality has a powerful effect on shipping, altering trade and business relationships and contributing to the future shape of shipping in the Middle East.

Mr Dajmar has been an outspoken critic of the sanctions and has vowed to continue IRISL’s business operating despite the opposition.

The awards event, held the Madinat Jumeirah hotel in Dubai, was marked by other distinguished winners, some who even walked away with two awards. The award for Lifetime Achievement went to Mohammed Saif Al-Gusaier, chief executive of Vela, the Saudi Arabian tanker company that, partly under Mr Al-Gusaier’s watch, has completely upgraded its fleet and now operates one of the technically sophisticated group of tanker vessels in the region.

Under Mr Al-Gusaier, Vela has also been a strong influence on industry policy, via activities with Intertanko and the International Maritime Organization.

Emarat Maritime scored a triple-threat win, named by the Lloyd’s List panel of judges as winner of the Tanker Company Award, the Clean Seas and Environment Award, and for building and operating Dubai Sun , the Ship of the Year.

Emarat was cited for the Tanker Award for its strong performance in a tough economic climate, its risk management policies, its training programs and its proactive approach in embracing new regulations. Its extraordinary efforts to introduce methods that lead to environmental protection, as well as enhanced safety procedures netted the company the Cleans Seas and Environment Award.

Dubai Sun, a super handymax bulk carrier built with a high cargo-carrying capacity, was named by the judges as best ship because of its design for energy efficiency and other technical innovations.

Topaz Marine Group subsidiary Topaz Marine Mena scored a double victory, carrying away the Shipowner and Operator Award and the Energy Award. The judges noted that Topaz Marine Mena had accelerated its customer service even during a tough economic climate and consequently added to its customer base.

Regarding the Energy Award, the judges recognised Topaz’s restructuring efforts, which modernised its fleet and allowed it to provide speedier and more comprehensive services to the offshore industry.

Lloyd’s Register, the venerable classification society that is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year, was given the accolade of the best class performer in the region.

India’s Varun Shipping won the Safety at Sea Award for its thorough and stringent focus on seafarer training and risk management procedures.

The Maritime Services Award went to Sharaf Shipping Agency, which has been expanding its presence throughout the region and in Africa. The award for Training and Crewing went to the Maritime Institute of Pakistan, which has undergone a thorough modernisation of its curriculum.

The panel of judges included (in alphabetical order): Saqr Port Authority general manager Colin Crookshank; Maritime Industrial Services chief executive Kevin Hudson; APM Terminals Africa, Middle East and Indian chief executive Charles Menkhorst; DP World UAE region managing director Mohammed Al Muallem; Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard chief executive Chris Potter; Allcargo Global Logistics chairman Shashi Kiran Shetty; and NITC chairman Mohammad Souri.

Lloyd’s List Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards 2010 – Winners:

Category	Winner
Freight Transport and Logistics Sponsored by Topaz Energy & Marine	GAC Group
Shipyard of the Year Award	ABG Shipyard
Shipowner/ Operator Award	Topaz Marine MENA
Tanker Company Award Sponsored by Ras Laffan Industrial City	Emarat Maritime
The Innovation Award	Det Norske Veritas
Port Authority/Terminal Operator Award Sponsored by NITC	Chennai Container Terminal
The Energy Award	Topaz Marine MENA
The Maritime Services Award	Sharaf Shipping Agency
Clean Seas and the Environment Award Sponsored by Vela	Emarat Martime
The Training and Crewing Award	Maritime Training Institute, Karachi
Classification Society Award Sponsored by Drydocks World	Lloyd’s Register EMEA
Safety at Sea Award	Varun Shipping Company
Ship of the Year Award Sponsored by ClassNK	M/V Dubai Sun from Emarat Martime
Newsmaker of the Year Sponsored by DP World	Mohammad Hossein Dajmar, CEO of IRISL
Lifetime Achievement Award Presented by Lloyd’s List	Mohammed Saif Al-Gusaier, Vela