The Seatrade Maritime Awards, a major awards body for the maritime sector, has introduced several new award categories to showcase the outstanding achievements within the maritime and shipping industries and across regions.

The new awards include Shipyard of the Year and Maritime Services Award under the ‘Industry’ category and the Integration of Women in the Maritime Sector Award under the ‘Personality and Community’ category.

The premier award also introduces a new category, ‘Regional Focus’, which recognises the best regional performers through the Africa Maritime Award and the Indian Subcontinent Maritime Award.

The Seatrade Maritime Awards, held under the patronage of Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and chairman of Dubai Maritime City Authority, attracts over 700 industry leaders and government officials in a gala event held as part of the UAE Maritime Week 2018.

Organisers have urged maritime industry players from the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa to participate to 21 different awards distributed in four categories including Technical and Operational, Industry, Regional Focus, and Personality & Community.

Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, which is under the umbrella of UBM EMEA, said: “As Seatrade Maritime Awards celebrates its 15th year, it is exciting to witness the massive maritime development taking place in the Middle East, the subcontinent and African regions.

“It is indeed significant to continue recognising and celebrating the achievements of the sector in various segments as they bring to the fore the best practices within the maritime and shipping industry. It is notable that the Middle East and neighbouring regions of Africa and the Indian subcontinent remain proactive in making a significant contribution in the global maritime sector, which also rightfully deserves recognition.”

Submission to entries are free of cost and can be done through the official Seatrade Maritime Awards entry system on or before July 20.Winners will be honoured in a gala ceremony at the Atlantis, The Palm October 28. – TradeArabia News Service