The winners of 2023 CAREER4SEA – EUROPORT Awards announced

As we discuss ways to enhance the image of shipping among the younger generation and those outside of the sector, all these factors are crucial to reframe shipping as an attractive industry and a wise career option. SAFETY4SEA also announced the recipients of two special award categories, the New Generation and Personality Awards, for which no nominees were formally selected. The recipients were chosen directly by the editorial team.

The awards were presented at a prestigious ceremony which successfully concluded on November the 10th, on the sidelines of EUROPORT, the leading international exhibition taking place in Rotterdam, November 7-10, 2023. To remind, the last couple of days, the winners of the 2023 GREEN4SEA – EUROPORT Awards were announced, acknowledging significant efforts on Clean Shipping, Energy Transition, Technology, Initiative and Ship Design and the winners of the 2023 SMART4SEA – EUROPORT Awards that have showcased excellence and innovation within the maritime industry towards a smart and more sustainable shipping.

The winners of the 2023 CAREER4SEA – EUROPORT Awards are:

KVH Industries, Inc. received the 2023 CAREER4SEA – EUROPORT Crew Welfare Award for supporting crew welfare for seafarers around the world with a continued focus on connectivity technology, services, and content. Other short-listed nominees were: Global Seaways, ISWAN, Magsaysay, OneCare Solutions, VIKAND.

KVH is proud to support crew welfare for seafarers around the world with a continued focus on connectivity technology, services, and content. KVH employs over 65 people dedicated to the technology, writing, and editing of content which is constantly refreshed to ensure crew have the very best in information and entertainment. In 2022, there were over 5.5 million views of KVH’s NEWSlink TV assets and 700,000 views of its SPORTSlink assets. KVH Link service features hundreds of news stories, movies, TV shows, music radio and karaoke, social videos, sporting events and stats, and documentaries. In 2023, KVH recognized the need to go beyond its content offerings and delivery systems and introduced a new service to provide vital connectivity to crews: KVH Crew Internet. With KVH Crew Internet Seafarers can use their personal email and WhatsApp, check social media, browse the web, and stay in touch with friends and family.

Accepting the award on behalf of the winner, Thomas Plueschau, Regional Sales Manager, KVH Industries, Inc., said: ”Connectivity is crucial to crew welfare, and this is part of our philosophy here at KVH.  Imagine living with no Internet service, no ability to text or call loved ones, no ability to check email, pay a bill, or engage online with friends – for weeks or months at a time. That’s what it can be like for a seafarer on a vessel with no or limited connectivity, news, or content.”

KVH is proud to support crew welfare for seafarers around the world with a continued focus on connectivity technology, services, and content.

TURTLE received the 2023 CAREER4SEA – EUROPORT Diversity & Inclusion Award for promoting a holistic approach on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) with research and services for companies within maritime, to help them ensure employee diversity. Other short-listed nominees were: Captains without Borders, Maritime UK, WESS project, WISTA International.

TURTLE is an innovative start-up that has disrupted the crewing industry by building a marketplace where seafarers and shipping companies meet directly, on equal footing. The start-up promotes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in every aspect of its busiess and within the company itself. Being a member of Global Maritime Forum’s AllAboardAlliance, TURTLE is actively working in the two workstreams Diversity@Sea and Diversifying Leadership. TURTLE is currently working on a diversity score for companies, to highlight companies that are committed to promoting DEI in their hiring practices and help customers to improve their employee diversity. The TURTLE team consists of 24 team members and has a balanced ratio between men and women coming from 10 different nationalities. Management consists of 3 males and 3 females, coming from 4 nationalities. Promoting DEI in the maritime industry is on top of TURTLE’s agenda. Through their Social Media channels, they showcase role models, share insights and celebrate important industry days around the topic.

Accepting the award on behalf of the winner, Isabelle Rickmers, CEO & Founder, TURTLE, said: ‘’TURTLE disrupted the crewing industry by building a global marketplace where seafarers and shipping companies meet directly. Shipping companies can tap into a diverse pool of seafarers and can choose talent based on qualifications – at the same time allowing them to push their diversity efforts.”

We promote DEI in every aspect of our business and within our start-up itself. We constantly develop new formats to empower companies to enhance diversity in their hiring practices, providing a platform for them to amplify their employer branding efforts.

Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz received the 2023 CAREER4SEA – EUROPORT Educational Award for providing programmes for masters and chief engineers, as well as hydrographic surveyors, featuring a highly equipped simulator training centre. Other short-listed nominees were: FMTC Safety, Maritime Academy Holland, STC Maritime & Logistics University of applied sciences, World Maritime University.

The Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz (MIWB) consists of a maritime university, providing programmes for masters and chief engineers ‘all ships’, as well as hydrographic surveyor. It offers a full mission simulator training centre incorporating the national maritime simulation training facilities, available for all Dutch maritime cadets. MIWB has also its own seagoing training and survey vessel and a fully equipped student campus with comprehensive restaurant and library facilities. As part of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, MIWB has over 600 full-time students. The MIWB continuously provides high-quality ship’s officers and hydrographic surveyors for national and foreign merchant fleets and industries. The MIWB is considered as the Centre of Excellence for maritime training and simulation in the Netherlands and beyond.

Accepting the award on behalf of the winner, Stephen Procee, Researcher / Teacher at Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz, said:

The need to train and educate according to STCW goes without saying. More important though, is to prepare young professionals for their future work at sea and in the maritime sector by learning them skills that go beyond that standard. For instance, the shipping’s impending energy transition requires more than just changing fuel in order to cut GHG. It can be foreseen that sea transport needs redesign.

”A reconsideration of conventions, existing techniques and systems. In order to prepare our students for that, yet unknown, redesigned shipping world we currently introduce them with self-learning, researching skills through participating in, sometimes EU funded, research projects, invite them to develop an active open mindedness and show them that they are shaping their future instead of adapting to it.’’, he added.

Marjolein and Sylvia Boer, introduced to the shipping industry as ‘Maritime Sisters’, received the 2023 CAREER4SEA – EUROPORT New Generation Award for their energy and passion to make the sector futureproof, attractive and sustainable through their innovative activities that bring change, inspiration and promote collaboration. Maritime Sisters serve as an inspiring example for enhanced diversity and inclusion, as they have put the topic high on their agenda, raising awareness and engaging stakeholders in discussions.

Marjolein and Sylvia Boer has been introduced to the shipping industry as ‘Maritime Sisters’. Their entrepreneurial approach is characterized by decisiveness, humor and their ability to reframe, which combined with their social skills, is leading to refreshing outcomes. Sylvia brings structure and Marjolein brings creativity to our collaboration. While Marjolein’s power is to get to the bottom of things, Sylvia’s is cutting cords. ‘Maritime Sisters’ are considered as the inspirators for novel ideas and the point of entry to new collaboration partners. ‘Maritime Sisters’ are your innovation partner-in-crime onyour way to a sustainable maritime future.

Accepting the award, the Maritime Sisters said:

What we see when we look at a ship is more than just a big junk of steel. We see vessels transporting essential products like oil and gas, but also coffee and spices. Basically everything we use in our daily lives enters via ship, from all over the world. And along with those loads, different cultures come into our ports.

”That makes ports a gateway to the world. As you all know ships make the world go, they help trade flow and let business grow. Let’s make it sustainable in every way. But making it sustainable in every way is what we as an industry are struggling with. That touches us, as we truly have maritime DNA!‘’, they added.

Capt. Eero Lehtovaara, Head of Regulatory Affairs, ABB, receives the 2023 CAREER4SEA – EUROPORT Personality Award for his outstanding contributions to the maritime industry, including his expertise in addressing the challenges posed by new regulations, human resource management, and technological advancements, such as the accelerating pace of shipboard automation. As the leader of the One Sea autonomous shipping alliance, Capt. Lehtovaara has prioritized the establishment of new autonomous shipping guidelines and regulations.

Captain Eero Lehtovaara’s career path towards his role as Head of Regulatory Affairs, ABB Marine & Ports began with what he describes as an “ordinary mariner’s life” spanning various positions on different ship types – primarily in coastal but also in domestic traffic. Starting his career as an ordinary seaman, he subsequently became a junior officer before gaining the necessary bridge experience to train to become a master mariner. Lehtovaara, in his words, was “drifting through life aimlessly” until being “anchored” by family life and the “big picture of the global maritime industry and its interdependencies”. He picks out his wedding day at the Seamen’s Mission in New York and the subsequent honeymoon cruise aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 as high points in his life.  In April 2011, Lehtovaara joined ABB after more than four years at the then start up Eniram Ltd, later or now a Wärtsilä subsidiary. He held the position of Head of Marine Design House at ABB Marine & Ports until 2016, when he became Head of Regulatory and Public Affairs. During his active days he enjoyed sailing and did spend time working with young people on board sail training ships.

Accepting the award, Capt. Eero Lehtovaara, Head of Regulatory Affairs, ABB, said: ‘

This award is not about me; it’s about the shipping industry, which has given me so much throughout my career and personal life. It’s also about the great team I am so proud to be a part of – and without whom I wouldn’t be where I am today.

”So, I would like to thank everyone at ABB Marine & Ports for their ongoing support and commitment.  Together, we have achieved a great deal, and I look forward to a lot more success and progress – for ABB and for the wider shipping sector – in the years to come.’’, Capt Eero concluded.

After a successful partnership in 2019, SAFETY4SEA & Europort once again this year  joined forces to present a total of 15 Awards at special events during the exhibition days.

The winners were those who attracted the most votes by the end of a voting period which was held online during a three-month period. The process included a combination of open nomination and voting which provided a unique opportunity for all nominees to get acknowledged for the hard and good work they put into their projects and initiatives, worth to be awarded.

SAFETY4SEA is Fostering Sustainable Shipping for more than 14 years, hosting the leading safety4sea.com, (200k visitors monthly) producing monthly magazines & tailored publications (100k p.a. circ. onboard & ashore) & Industry Surveys along with e-mail, video & social media, delivering SAFETY4SEA, GREEN4SEA, SMART4SEA, CAREER4SEA & Crew Welfare Week Forums & Awards globally.

Europort, organized in the world port city of Rotterdam, is the international maritime meeting place for innovative technology and complex shipbuilding. Europort has a strong focus on ‘high-tech’ ships such as dredging vessels, naval vessels, workboats, inland navigation vessels, offshore support vessels and super yachts. With 25,000 professional visitors and over 1,00 exhibiting companies Europort belongs to the world’s largest maritime meeting & knowledge sharing B2B platforms. In the past decades, Europort has grown into one of the world’s largest maritime B2B knowledge and meeting places. In 2023, Europort will celebrate its 41st edition.