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tHe LLOyd’S LISt gReeK SHIPPINg AwARdS 2015

DUBAI-based United Arab Chemical Carriers is set to further expand its fleet, according to chief executive Per Wistoft, writes Craig Eason.

Speaking after he had picked up the Lloyd’s List Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Award for Ship Operator of the Year, he said the company had been able to survive the poor markets thanks to the keen support of its shareholders and was in a strong position to expand further.

UACC is majority owned by regional state owned

businesses including Dubai-based United Arab Shipping Company and Qatar Navigation. It was thanks to the continued belief in the company by its majority backers that it was able to push through poor market rates until they began to improve.

The company currently operates a fleet of 23 very modern medium range and panamax long range one chemical and product tankers, and has been able to expand this year with the acquisition of at least two vessels from regional operator Emirates Ship Investment Company, known as Eships.

Mr Wistoft said the improved market conditions meant there was a good possibility that UACC would be looking to expand further.

When picking up the award he also reminded the audience of 400 leading industry professionals that though the problem of piracy was no longer in the news, there were still crews being held hostage.

The audience also saw Abu Dhabi Ports pick up the year’s Safety Award for the development of its own training courses and simulator to help vessel tracking service staff and other port workers.

The judges for that award said the company showed great awareness of safety by investing in improved training of VTS staff, and importantly for offering training for other port operators around the region, thus helping improve safety levels in other ports.

Our editorial team awarded this year’s Newsmaker of the

Year honour to the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia, known as Bahri, not only for the successful completion of the merger with Vela, but also for an ability for make the most of the market conditions and invest in growth. That investment includes the acquisition of secondhand tonnage and the ordering of 10 new very large crude carriers from South Korean shipyard Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries.

The company had also announced plans develop its own joint shipyard for shipbuilding and offshore manufacturing in Saudi Arabia, in conjunction with Saudi Aramco and Singapore-based Sembcorp.

However, the group recently

Middle East shipping community lays out future growth plans at awards

The Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards winners gathered on stage.

Industry’s finest meets in plush surroundings to celebrate achievements of the last year and reveal plans for the future

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vessels and participation in a number of environmental standards and ratings organisations.

Talking to Lloyd’s List ahead of the awards and during the annual Shiptech conference, deputy chief executive Ali Shehab describe some of the work the company has done and plans to do. This includes working with local terminal operators to build ballast water reception facilities.

While KOTC has opted to install ballast water treatment systems on board the vessels, and will do so for its next newbuildings even though there remains regulatory uncertainty, Mr Shehad said more need to be done in the Middle East Gulf.

There are large number of very large crude carriers and other large vessels that come into Kuwait to load crude oil, and in doing so discharge vast amounts of foreign ballast water. Due to the Gulf waters not recycling naturally there have been instances in which this discharge water had a negative impact on local aquatic life, which has included organisms that are harming local fish stocks. By creating reception facilities

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announced that memorandum of understanding between the companies had expired, and they have yet to agree on an extension or the signing of a new MOU.

The annual Middle East and India Subcontinent Awards ceremony took place at the prestigious ballroom of the Armani Hotel, located directly under the towering Burj Khalifa, the largest building in the world.

The evening saw a total of 16 distinguished individuals or companies pick up trophies to celebrate their achievements over the last year.

Topaz Marine and Energy chief executive René Kofod-Olsen picked up two awards for his company, the Offshore and Energy Award and the Maritime Services Award. Mr Kofod-Olsen paid tribute to the work of the company’s staff, especially in the weak market conditions for the offshore sector, which has seen a large number of vessels laid up due to poor rates.

He also reminded the audience of the dedication of crews working on offshore support vessels and highlighted the need to maintain crew and vessel capabilities by pointing to the vessels that are currently still tackling a blaze on an oil rig in the Caspian Sea.

The HPH Environment Award went to Kuwait Oil Tanker Company. KOTC has been working heavily on a number of environmental projects over the years and has shown continued dedication to going beyond the expected levels of regulatory compliance that is expected of all shipowners.

The company has completed an ambitious newbuilding programme and like UACC, has plans for further expansion.

While the judges gave the environment award to KOTC on the back of the additional technologies and systems the company had put into its recent deliveries of four MR tankers, four very large crude carriers and one aframax tanker, they also noted the company’s voluntary efforts through the installation of emissions monitoring equipment on

GMS chief Anil Sharma, left, hands Per Wistoft of United Arab Chemical Carriers the Ship Operator of the Year Award.

René Kofod-Olsen, chief executive of Topaz Energy and Marine, picks up one of the two awards for the company.

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the vast amounts of discharge water from these tankers can be controlled long before the ballast water convention has come into force and sees all vessels with treatment systems on board.

The MEIS Seafarer of the Year Award went to Philippine seafarer Zaude Paolo Bandivas, who was stranded on a vessel in the Middle East for two years, but bravely continued his work on board for many months until being repatriated. He then pushed his way to get his certificates revalidated before returning back to sea with another company. The award was picked up on his behalf by the Mission to Seafarers as Mr Bandivas has been now returned to sea.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner is Haleem Ahmad Siddiqui, a man who had started his career at sea as a cadet, worked his way through the ranks and then headed ashore for an influential career in Pakistan’s political life. He also built up the Marine Group of Companies, a large, multifaceted family business active in ports, logistics and stevedoring.

The judges were impressed by his commitment to the shipping industry over the decades of his career. Capt Siddiqui gave a touching speech to the audience, which included his wife and family who had flown in especially to see him pick up what he described as the best award of his life.

The HPH Environment Award: Kuwait Oil Tanker Company

Innovation Award: GAC EnvironHull

Logistics Award: APM Terminals Inland Services, South Asia

Maritime Lawyer of the Year: Ince & Co

Maritime Services Award: Topaz Energy and Marine

The Next Generation Shipping Award: YoungShip Dubai

Offshore and Energy Award: Topaz Energy and Marine

Port Operator Award: Gulftainer

Safety Award: Vadinar Oil Terminal

Ship Operator Award: United Arab Chemical Carriers

Shipyard of the Year: Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard (Asry)

Training Award: Abu Dhabi Ports

Lifetime Achievement Award: Haleem Ahmad Siddiqui

Seafarer of the Year: Zaude Paolo Bandivas

Lloyd’s List Middle east and Indian Subcontinent Awardsthe winners of this year’s gongs

Lifetime achievement of the year winner Haleem Siddiqui, chairman, Marine Group of Companies.

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Classified

Award Sponsors:

Cocktail Reception Sponsor: Champagne Toast Sponsor:Event Sponsor:

Dry Cargo Company of the Year - Neptune LinesTanker Company of the Year - Olympic Shipping & Management

Passenger Line of the Year - Dodekanisos SeawaysShipbroker of the Year - Cass Technava Maritime

Shipping Financier of the Year - EurobankTechnical Achievement Award - Prisma Electronics

Award for Achievement in Safety or Environmental Protection - Hellenic Coast Guard & FrontexPiraeus International Centre Award - Bureau Veritas Hellas

International Personality of the Year - Andreas ChrysostomouSeafarer of the Year - Capt. Dimitrios Tsitsimelis

Award for Achievement in Education or Training - University of the AegeanShip of the Year - ‘Hellas Liberty’

Next Generation Shipping Award - Maria AngelicoussisLloyd’s List Intelligence Big Data Award -

Danaos Management Consultants & Danaos Shipping Co.Lloyd’s List/Propeller Club Lifetime Achievement Award - Aristidis Alafouzos

Greek Shipping Newsmaker of the Year - Nikolas P. TsakosGreek Shipping Personality of the Year - George M. Logothetis

Thank you to all our Guests, Sponsors, Supporting Organisations and Members of the Judging Panel for your contribution to the success of the 12th Annual Greek Shipping Awards.

GREEK SHIPPINGAWARDS 2015

Congratulations to all our Winners!