The winners of the 2020 SAFETY4SEA Virtual Awards are:
V.Group received the 2020 SAFETY4SEA Dry Bulk Operator Award, sponsored by UK P&I Club, for ensuring all operations, staff, suppliers and contractors are aligned with company’s long-term sustainability strategy which makes strong commitments and sets ambitious targets. To this end, a Sustainability Committee was formed in 2019. Other short-listed nominees for this category were: Cosco Shipping Bulk, Intership Navigation, Target Marine SA, Wallem
Reducing emissions is a key challenge for the industry as a whole and V.Group is at the forefront of this challenge. The Group has integrated energy saving measures and has set ambitious targets for the reduction of GHG emissions including zero emission vessels by 2030. In 2019, a Sustainability Committee was formed in 2019 with the aim of reducing harmful emissions, eliminating single use plastics and enhancing environmental awareness. The company is committed to training of staff to raise awareness of their environmental responsibilities. Also, V.Group has set a long-term strategy to have commercially viable zero emission vessels operating along deep-sea trade routes by 2030.
Thome Group received the 2020 SAFETY4SEA Tanker Operator Award, sponsored by DNV GL, for focusing on safety, health and quality; during the coronavirus pandemic, the company invested heavily in its IT services to support fleet and ensure office staff working remotely had access to network to continue providing quality and reliable services to its clients. Other short-listed nominees for this category were: LSC, Maersk Tankers, Synergy Maritime, Torm
Thome Group is accredited to the highest industry standards, with a professionally-organized shore-based management team. Thome has a strong safety record by adopting best practices including shore-based safety workshops, computer-based training, and a “Partners in Safety” campaign. Thome has recently introduced a team of experienced safety coaches who will sail with the fleet to observe and suggest areas of improvement. The company encourages seafarers to use a behaviour-based safety system called “STOPER” - “Stop, Think, Observe, Prevent, Execute” report cards.
ABS received the 2020 SAFETY4SEA Sustainability Award, sponsored by Orpheus Marine Transport Corporation, for launching ABS Global Sustainability Center aiming to help maritime transition to a sustainable, lower emissions industry. The Centre plans include leading an industry education program, seminars and lectures, designed to raise awareness of maritime sustainability technologies. Other short-listed nominees for this category were: Baltic Exchange, IACS, IAPH, Singapore’s Information Fusion Centre.
In 2019, ABS launched the ABS Global Sustainability Centre in Athens aiming to help maritime transition to a sustainable, lower emissions industry. The Centre brings together industry leading ABS sustainability projects focusing on the decarbonization of shipping. Among others, the Centre will focus on studying the viability of alternative fuels and new energy sources in different shipping sectors.
Kongsberg Digital received the 2020 SAFETY4SEA Training Award, sponsored by Metropolitan College, for the development of its K-Sim Fishery simulator to meet the needs of the fishing industry with a specially adapted training system that, complying at the same time with STCW's training requirements, DNV GL's certification standards and UN's Sustainability Goal number 14. Other short-listed nominees for this category were: Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), World Maritime University, Steamship Mutual, The Mission to Seafarers
With the development of the new K-Sim Fishery simulator, Kongsberg Digital meets the needs of the fishing industry with a specially adapted training system. In addition to meeting STCW's training requirements, also complies with DNV GL's certification standards. It also contributes to meeting the UN's Sustainability Goal number 14, to ensure that ocean and marine resources are used in a sustainable way. The work to develop K-Sim Fishery started in 2018, in collaboration with the Lofoten Maritime Business School. The simuliation is designed to replicate the bridge on a fishing vessel with all essential control and navigation equipment.
North Club received the 2020 SAFETY4SEA Technology Award, sponsored by Green Jakobsen A/S, for launching ‘the Digital Covid-19 Tracking Tool’, a continuously updated map of the pandemic’s spread. Equipped with detailed information from highly respected maritime and health organisations, with this tool, users know what to expect at any given port and plan their operations accordingly. Other short-listed nominees for this category were: SRH MARINE SAIT, ST Engineering, Aurora Digital Solutions, Empire Group of Companies
North’ s Digital Covid-19 Tracking Tool was launched in February 2020 with partners Geollect. It is an easy-to-use digital dashboard which provides live updates on developments related to the pandemic. The tool provides details regarding the number of confirmed cases, the countries most at risk and the measures various port authorities are taking to contain COVID-19. The interactive tool draws on information provided by IG club correspondents worldwide, as well as IMO and WHO. Data also comes from Wilhelmsen Ship Management and GAC, while the dashboard includes a continuously updated map of the pandemic’s spread from John Hopkins University.
The Standard Club received the 2020 SAFETY4SEA Initiative Award, sponsored by ShipMedCare, for launching a series of posters which focus on four topics considered to have the biggest impact on seafarer wellbeing, in the current times – healthy eating, fitness, mental wellbeing and socialisation. Other short-listed nominees for this category were: International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), InterManager, TT Club, V.Group
Seafarer wellbeing has been a focal topic for Standard Club's Loss Prevention team. Seafarer wellbeing is a holistic concept combining physical, mental, and social wellbeing. The club’s latest attempt to reach out to seafarers directly has seen the launch of an exciting new campaign based around a series of posters. The posters focus on four topics considered to have the biggest impact on seafarer wellbeing in the current times. The four topics are: #1 healthy eating, #2 fitness, #3 mental wellbeing and #4 socialisation.
Mr. Kishore Rajvanshy, Managing Director, Fleet Management, received the 2020 SAFETY4SEA Personality Award, sponsored by MACGREGOR, for his inspirational professional journey which precisely reflects in company’s enviable growth. In an era of dynamic and challenging business environment, he and his team exhibited their strength and leadership, an important trait every entrepreneur must possess.
Mr Rajvanshy is an engineer by background with a degree in mechanical engineering from BITS Pilani, a prominent university in India. He began his career at the Shipping Corporation of India - the country's state shipping company, where he spent the first year of training in Mumbai. He spent most of his time at sea between 1971 and 1978. In his last three years at sea, he sailed as chief engineer. In 1994, Mr Rajvanshy joined Noble Group to establish Fleet Management Limited, which was subsequently acquired by The Caravel Group. In 2018, Mr Rajvanshy was elected as Vice Chairman of the Board of the West of England P&I Club, where he has been a Director since 2007. Mr Rajvanshy also sits on the Technical and Regional Committees of all major classification societies.
Capt. Kuba Szymanski, Secretary General, InterManager, Member of the Executive Board at The Nautical Institute, received the 2020 SAFETY4SEA Leadership Award, sponsored by Latsco Marine Management Inc, for his contribution to the industry being for the past ten years the Secretary General of InterManager where he has led significant projects on maritime piracy, fatigue, enclosed spaces, COVID-19 to address seafarers’ challenges.
InterManager is the international trade association for the ship and crew management sector. Capt. Szymanski started his sea carrier in 1985 and his deck officer career with Dorchester Maritime Limited Isle of Man. In his roles ashore, Capt. Szymanski has worked as Marine Superintendent, HSEQ Manager, Fleet Manager and General Manager. Through his role with InterManager, Capt Szymanski has participated in many industry-wide projects. Among many, he was responsible for the production of international shipping industry Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the Save Our Seafarers campaign. He was also involved in the Martha Project which focussed on seafarer fatigue at sea and a survey on enclosed spaces. Most recently, in May 2020, InterManager announced the launch of ‘Maritime Champions League’, a place where ship managers share their successful crew repatriation achievements during COVID-19.
Explore more about the nomination & voting procedure and the winners of 2020 SAFETY4SEA Awards at https://events.safety4sea.com/2020-safety4sea-virtual-awards/
