SAFETY4SEA is pleased to announce that Mr. Frank Coles has received the 2018 SMART4SEA Leadership Award Award at the prestigious 2018 SMART4SEA Awards Ceremony which successfully concluded on January the 30th, the evening ahead of the SMART4SEA Conference, at Yacht Club of Greece in Athens.
Mr. Frank Coles received the SMART4SEA Leadership Award sponsored by MarineTraffic, for his innovative ideas for embracing the digital future and the shift to smart shipping era. Acting as a CEO of Transas, he has managed significant achievements in creating an ecosystem of harmonized integrated solutions in safety, navigation, training and ship operation.
Presenting the award Mr. Georgios Hatzimanolis, Media & Communication Manager of MarineTraffic said: “ I read somewhere that great leaders find the balance between business foresight, performance, and character. They have vision, courage, integrity, humility and focus along with the ability to plan strategically and catalyse cooperation amongst their team.These are all characteristics that Frank Coles has, which is why it is no surprise he is being recognised tonight. Mr Coles is awarded for his innovative ideas for embracing the digital future and the shift to smart shipping era.”
Accepting the award Mr. Frank Coles, Transas Chief Executive Officer stated “It’s been 40 years since in 1978 I first stepped on board my first ship. So many changes since then and yet so little changes. I think so much is available to change, but so much has not changed? Our attitudes and our culture, our belief that we are different and cannot be impacted. My view is that the next 10 years will see more changes than the last 40 years.Essentially leadership in innovation and changes is a continuous campaign against the archaic cultural attitudes fighting modernization and the benefits of efficiency brought about by technology.”
“At the heart of my passion and desire to speak about the marriage of technology and shipping is the belief that the whole structure needs an overhaul. We need a well trained maritime professional in a modern environment. Luckily, as time as permitted, the new generation combined with technology will mean the removal of those who refuse to see, cannot see or don’t care enough to see… Change is coming from within but also from outside. We have to keep talking about it, so we can see the sea.”
Frank Coles started his career as a merchant navy deck officer and qualified as a Master Mariner, Class One after 12 years at sea. After leaving the sea, Frank gained an LLM in Legal Aspects of Maritime Affairs from Cardiff University, Wales and spent 5 years practicing maritime law. In 1995, Frank joined Pacific Basin Bulk Shipping (PB) as Operations Director for 50 ships. After PB has decided to invest in Rydex, a company specializing in maritime communications, Frank Coles became the CEO of a newly acquired enterprise. After that Frank joined Sperry Marine as a Vice President of Business Development and Information technology. In September 1999 Frank became COO of Globe Wireless LLC. In 2003 Frank was appointed CEO, President and a member of the Board. In 2011 Frank joined Inmarsat as the Director GX Maritime, and in December 2011 he was appointed the President of the Inmarsat Maritime business unit. In September 2015, Frank Coles joined Transas as the CEO and member of the Board of Directors. His key aim at Transas is to create an ecosystem of harmonized integrated solutions in safety, navigation, training and ship operation, that will enhance ship and shore integration.
Find photos from the awards ceremony at Flickr and explore more about the nomination & voting procedure and the winners of 2018 SMART4SEA Awards at awards’ dedicated webpage at https://www.safety4sea.com/2018-smart4sea-awards/
