The winners of the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Awards announced

The winners of the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Virtual Awards are:

C Transport Maritime S.A.M. (CTM) received the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Dry Bulk Operator Award for establishing an innovative strategy based on ‘Going Forward Together’ which is the vision that CTM has since its formation. Other distinguished short-listed nominees of this category were: Atlantic Bulk Carriers Management Ltd., Golden Union Shipping CO. S.A., MMS Co., Ltd., Orion Reederei GmbH & Co. KG and Polaris Shipping.

Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Mr. John Michael Radziwill, CEO, said:

Last year was extraordinarily challenging; we moved 100 million tons of dry cargo across 270 ships from handysizes to very large ore carriers and it was a pleasure to work with everybody. Let’s not be complacent and make the best and safest environment possible for our seafarers.

Going Forward Together is the vision that C Transport Maritime S.A.M. (CTM) has had since its formation in 2004. Since CTM first opened its Monaco offices 18 years ago, they have used these three words as the very foundation of the work they do every day for their partners and clients. Going Forward Together is CTM ideal of forward-thinking, that has been essential in guiding company’s goals, principles and beliefs. In 2017, CTM’s managed fleet grew to over 100 vessels, marking an important milestone for the company. Just two years after surpassing 100 vessels under management, 2019 saw CTM vessels grow to around 200. CTM operates high quality business in an ethical, fair, and competitive manner complying with the laws and regulations globally and applying a transparent Code of Business Conduct. CTM is committed to a culture that gives emphasis on teamwork, allowing innovation. CTM runs Supramax and Panamax Revenue Sharing Agreements (RSA)’s and is a founding member of the Capesize Chartering LTD (CCL).

Maran Gas Maritime Inc. received the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Tanker Operator Award for placing the health of its employees among its top priorities, seeking to ensure healthy and hygienic conditions for all shore staff and seagoing personnel. Other distinguished short-listed nominees of this category were: EXMAR Ship Management, LSC Group, Norstar Ship Management Pte Ltd, Stealth Maritime Corporation S.A. and Zodiac Maritime.

Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Mr. Christos Kechris, HSQE Manager, said:

This reward is special for us because it reflects our values as a company. The care of our people is one of our core values. We have been committed in investing in our people from the inception of the company. Finally, we are proud to be the first Greek company to establish an in-house training centre, aiming to focus on the human element.

Maran Gas Maritime Inc. (MGM) is the Gas Shipping unit of Angelicoussis Shipping Group (ASGL) since July 2003. Maran Gas Maritime Inc. is committed to creating a positive safety culture, which involves developing values, attitudes, competencies and patterns of behaviour in groups and individuals. MGM gives top priority to the health and safety of all its employees, service contractors and people affected by its operations. The company ensures high standards of health and personal hygiene it is the Company’s Policy. Among many, MGM provides voluntary health and hygiene promotion programs designed to enhance employee wellbeing and personal safety. Through the Maran Intervene Campaign, MGM encourages active participation of every crew member in thinking about safety, of stepping forward to identify things that were not right and report to their supervisor key findings. Continual improvement of the health and living conditions aboard fleet vessels is provided through enhanced facilities, to the benefit of the seafarers’ welfare. MGM also focuses on improving the work environment life-saving tools at sea and the level of medical care onboard.

Odfjell SE received the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Sustainability Award for supporting sustainability with ESG reporting and ESG communication. Odfjell was the first company in the maritime industry to issue a Sustainability Linked Bond while it recently signed the FUTURE-PROOF initiative in support of human rights. Other distinguished short-listed nominees of this category were: ABS, Columbia Shipmanagement, European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI).

Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Mr. Harald Fotland, CEO, said:

Sustainability at Odfjell is about having a long-term perspective on how we do our business. It is about making improvements today that will make a difference tomorrow. But to succeed we need to act responsibly and think about the long term effects that the people and the planet will face. Of course, we are also proud to conduct our operations with the most environmentally-friendly fleet in our sector.

Odfjell SE is regarded as one of the leaders in Sustainability within the maritime industry. The company has been awarded for their ESG reporting and ESG communication and reporting. Odfjell was one of the first companies to set ambitious climate targets of 50% intensity reduction and to be zero in 2050. In July 2022, Odfjell signed the FUTURE-PROOF initiative in support of human rights. Odfjell was also the first company in the world in the maritime industry to issue a Sustainability Linked Bond. This links ambitious climate targets to financing. Since 2008, the company has run several improvement and efficiency programs, resulting in an almost 30% reduction in carbon intensity. Overall, Odfjell has committed to the ten UN Global Compact Principles, the Sustainable Ocean Principles and a set of targets based on a campaign initiated by the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) on UN’s 17 SDGs. The company is also a member of the ‘Getting to Zero’ coalition and Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN)

CSMART Arison Maritime Training Center received the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Training Award for expanding its training portfolio to include an online and onboard curriculum and remote usage of its simulation technology. CSMART continues to focus on maritime skills and the advancement of a lifelong learning philosophy across the fleet. Other distinguished short-listed nominees of this category were: OneLearn Global, Seably, SeaBot Maritime and Wärtsilä Voyage.

Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Rear Admiral Bill Truelove, Managing Director, said:

Our highest priority is the safe and compliant operation of our vessels and I think that CSMART represents that commitment in many ways. Our team’s everyday goal is to enable seafarers across the world to do their jobs safely and efficiently, and ultimately ensure a safe life onboard.

Our highest priority is the safe and compliant operation of our vessels and I think that CSMART represents that commitment in many ways.

Since its inception, CSMART has led the global maritime training industry in providing advanced simulation training for all Carnival Deck/Tech and Environmental Officers. Recently, CSMART has expanded its training portfolio to include an online and onboard curriculum as well as industry-leading innovation to allow remote usage of its simulation technology. CSMART has also embarked on a focused effort to enable shared learning across shipboard teams to further heighten cross department knowledge, cooperation, and collaboration. The introduction of ‘’Team Up ‘’ webinars over the past 2 years, has brought together shipboard teams and shoreside colleagues to collaboratively examine key safety topics. CSMART has also designed and introduced new onsite Nautical and Technical foundation courses which culminate in purpose-built, combined simulation exercises that see the Bridge and ECR teams working together through complex scenarios.  Further, the introduction of onboard-focused training scenarios and case studies has Captains/Chief Engineers to bring their teams together to discuss key topics such as BRM/ERM/Voyage Planning and Environmental management. In addition, CSMART has enhanced its Simulation Studies program with a focus on enabling and supporting combined simulation activities. With an unwavering focus on safety and compliance, CSMART continues to focus on maritime skills (hard and soft) and the advancement of a lifelong learning philosophy across the fleet.

Survitec received the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Technology Award for launching the ‘Seahaven Advanced Evacuation System’ to cruise ships owners and builders with Type Approval by Lloyds Register after successfully completing ship sinking scenario and a timed evacuation in less than 22 minutes. Other distinguished short-listed nominees of this category were: Bigyellowfish, HiLo Maritime Risk Management, NAPA and SOL-X Pte. Ltd.

Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Mr. Stew Gregory, Survitec – Lead engineer on the Seahaven project, said:

By replacing conventional lifeboats with Seahaven, we can free space onboard, while also creating revenue and opportunities for the crew and operators. We are also providing a safe alternative, as we can achieve a rapid 4-minute deployment of the system. Finally, I would like to pay particular attention to my colleagues for their vision and innovation, for bringing this idea to life.

In April 2022, Survitec officially launched the Seahaven Advanced Evacuation System, following Type Approval by Lloyds Register. Following years of development, the system successfully completed the stringent tests which included ship sinking scenario and a timed evacuation, achieved in less than 22 minutes! According to SOLAS, evacuation should not exceed 30 minutes. Seahaven is the world’s largest inflatable lifeboat with capacity to safely evacuate 1060 ship passengers in 20 minutes, a truly revolutionary system in terms of passenger and survival. Survitec has now teamed up with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) to incorporate the Seahaven solution onboard company’s next ground-breaking Prima Class of ships. Typically, a 4,000-passenger capacity cruise ship would require at least 12 to 16 lifeboats and up to four MES with liferafts, taking about 30 minutes to evacuate the ship. Just four Survitec’s Seahaven systems, would be required to evacuate the same number of passengers in the same amount of time. Survitec began developing the solution following its early involvement with the EU-led and -funded Safedor project. This ground breaking innovation will change forever the way in which passenger ships evacuate 1000s of passengers quickly and safely.

International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) received the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Initiative Award for conducting annually its ‘Pilot Ladder Safety Campaign’ with the objective of reporting pilots’ experiences of ladders and boarding equipment to the IMO and the wider shipping community. Other distinguished short-listed nominees of this category were: Inmarsat, International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), Safetytech Accelerator and Seafarers Hospital Society.

Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Capt. Simon Pelletier, President, said:

Our goal is to raise awareness of the daily dangers that pilots face all around the world. Pilots are the experts with local knowledge and experience to make pilotage effective. Importantly, IMPA members achieve an impressive record, but our experience says that the pilots’ remains hazardous.

IMPA is a non-profit organization which represents over 8,360 pilot members in 51 countries. For over 10 years, IMPA conducts annually safety campaigns with the objective of reporting pilots’ experiences of ladders and boarding equipment to the IMO and the wider shipping community. Every year, the IMPA pilot ladder survey reveals the ongoing rate of compliance/non-compliance with SOLAS, with regards to pilot ladders and pilot boarding arrangements. During the survey period, IMPA invites all its members to submit a report for every vessel they board, regardless of whether the arrangement is compliant or not. These reports are then collated and presented in an annual report to IMO. The same format is repeated every year to allow a ready comparison between successive surveys. Last Pilot Ladder Safety campaign (2021) received 3,322 reports from pilots operating across the world, of which 13.43% found non-compliant. IMPA urges owners to ensure that the ladders onboard comply with agreed industry standards, SOLAS and ISO 799, and that crews are properly trained.

John Adams, Managing Director of V.Ships UK & Americas, received the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Personality Award, sponsored by MacGregor, for his overall contribution to the shipping industry for over 40 years. Mr. Adams has played a key leadership role in Teekay’s growth, in the Working Group that approved IMO GHG reduction targets, in ICS as Vice Chair, and currently in leveraging V. Group’s new ship management operating model.

Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Mr. Adams, said:

The shipping industry is one of the most dynamic and exciting sectors of international business, and today we face some of our greatest challenges. One is the complex environment challenge and the pressing issue of crew welfare during geopolitical issues.

John Adams is Managing Director of V Ships UK, based in Glasgow, with vast experience in tanker and dry bulk management. John has an extensive background in the shipping industry, specializing in Strategy Development and Change Management. He has provided full technical management services to over 100 vessels, with a strong long-standing relationship with Oil Majors. Before joining V Group, he played a key leadership role in Teekay’s growth, integrating acquisitions into the expanding fleet operations. John has been also Chairman of Bahamas Shipowners’ Association and Vice Chair at ICS. As Vice Chair in ICS, he leads a strategic industry Working Group focusing on meeting the IMO GHG reduction targets. John is instrumental in leveraging V.Group’s new ship management operating model to deliver better results for customers. Under this model, V.Group’s fleet cells are prioritized with access to support groups and centers of expertise around the globe with market-leading expertise in HSEQ, compliance, and technical management.

William R. Gallagher, President, IRI | International Registries, Inc. received the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Leadership Award, sponsored by MacGregor, for demonstrating effective leadership as IRI’s President since 2000. For over 20 years, he has worked closely with the Marshall Islands government and its legislative agenda and has been most instrumental in working with IRI’s Far East clientele.

Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Mr. Gallagher, said:

When it comes to safety, I think back to when I grew up, when my father taught me that crew safety must be a priority. This is so important because if we don’t do our job as a registry, then there is no safety for our seafarers onboard; and the crew drives the industry.

William R. Gallagher, formerly International Registries, Inc.’s (IRI’s) General Counsel, was promoted to President in January 2000. During his tenure as President of IRI, the RMI-registered fleet grew from 7 million gross tons (GT) in 2000, to more than 192 million GT by mid-2022. Under his vision, the RMI Registry has expanded its network worldwide from 75 to more than 465 employees and opened 21 new offices in the last 22 years for a total of 28 worldwide offices. Mr. Gallagher is at the helm of the leading quality registry in the world with both the youngest and greenest fleet. This is evidenced by the RMI’s continued White List status (Paris and Tokyo MoUs), and its consecutive 18 years on USCG QUALSHIP 21 roster. The RMI Corporate Registry also boasts of 36 publicly traded companies, all engaged in shipping activities, on both the New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations. Since joining IRI in 1991, Mr. Gallagher has worked closely with the RMI government and its legislative agenda. Furthermore, he implemented an ISO standard for the Maritime Services Group. Mr. Gallagher received his Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Maryland. He earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) at the University of Baltimore School of Law and is a member of the Maryland State Bar

EXPLORE MORE ABOUT THE 2022 SAFETY4SEA AWARDS HERE