We're delighted to officially announce the finalists for
Seatrade Maritime Awards 2023
Honouring outstanding achievements, innovative solutions and ideas put in place
Introducing the 2023 Finalists for Seatrade Maritime Awards! Discover the outstanding companies that have been setting new standards of excellence in the maritime industry.
Ship of the Year
This award will celebrate the most innovative newbuilding of any vessel type or size.
New Aden sets new standards in VLCC performance. She is the first VLCC ever built in the world deploying two pairs of 40 meters rigid wing rotor sails. The sails are a true innovation made of a low weight carbon fibre composite supported by high strength corrosion resistance and a stateof-the-art autonomous control system. This system can maximizes efficiency in complex operating conditions. The sails are expected to slash average fuel consumption by nearly 10pc on the Middle East to the Far East route cutting an estimated 2900 tons of CO2 emissions.
It will help bring economies of scale and significantly lower carbon emissions through a state-of-the-art hull design that aims to maximize cargo intake and minimize fuel consumption. The vessel is equipped with a bow windshield, an extra container bay above forward mooring deck, an energy-saving device, and an exhaust gas cleaning system to meet the emission regulations of IMO. Other than above, ONE Innovation also has the best performing anti-fouling paint and well as optimum main engine for operation.
Marine Technology Award
This award will recognise the development and / or application of innovative marine technology that has resulted in improved efficiencies and lower operating costs.
Pythia constitutes the first software-only approach to decarbonisation that really works. Using detailed data and advanced AI, Pythia obtains a highly accurate understanding of every vessel and develops dynamic, tailor-made performance models for each ship to calculate the optimal routes and speeds for minimum fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Pythia provides the industry something vital - a way of hitting environmental and industry targets without taking drastic action or breaking the bank. The platform has a proven track-record, achieving a fully-validated 7% efficiency improvement with Wallenius Wilhelmsen, the world’s biggest car carrier.
AQUATERRAS, represents a ground-breaking advancement in driving operational, fuel and cost efficiencies and reducing emissions within the maritime industry. This antifouling coating is a game-changer, embodying cutting-edge science and technology adopted from medical science to ensure sustainable vessel operations. AQUATERRAS is the world’s first completely biocide-free and proven self-polishing antifouling paint, using entirely new technology in the marine coatings field. It works by using the science and materials used in medical anti-thrombogenic polymer technology, actively combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic micro-domain structures to naturally repel biological adhesion from the vessel’s surface. This results in increased performance, fuel savings and lower emissions.
GSBN’s secure digital infrastructure and together with its ecosystem of partners, is enhancing safe transportation of special cargo to reduce risk, minimise costly losses and enables a more efficient process overall. Its solution redefines the safe transportation certification process, switching paper documents to digital, and through its blockchain-enabled infrastructure, ensure these are immutable, structured and directly verifiable by relevant parties. This reduces human error, fraud, as well as enhances cargo security. In the future, it can also facilitate the advancement in automated verification, as well as the circulation of reliable certificate data stored on the blockchain among multiple parties.
Founded in 2018, Orca AI is the creator of a fully automated watchkeeper providing unmatched situational awareness to maximize voyage safety and the operational efficiency of ships and fleets. Powered by purpose-built AI and computer vision technologies, the Orca AI platform empowers crews to make data-driven decisions in congested waters and challenging visibility conditions. It also allows fleet managers to gain a better understanding of fleet performance and easily identify unsafe or risky and inefficient behaviors. The solution is already deployed by leading shipping companies worldwide, including SeaSpan, NYK and MSC.
I-TOS 2.0 achieves omni-terminal optimal decisions through its intelligent planning module, enabling collaborative scheduling of all on-site equipment and machinery and enhancing the operational efficiency of the entire stevedoring within the terminal. The system introduces a process intelligence control method that comprehensively monitors dynamic operational elements, facilitating timely adjustments and optimal command dispatch. It employs a novel online maintenance management approach to create comprehensive and transparent full-process management and coordination for terminal equipment and machinery in complex operational scenarios. This is further enhanced by data-driven monitoring decisions through a digital twin system, enabling extensive big data analysis.
AISA, P&O's innovative AI Safety Assistant, represents a transformative leap in maritime safety and efficiency. Built on Chat GPT-4, it provides 24/7 support, 365 days a year, offering instant access to a wealth of knowledge, transcending linguistic barriers with its multilingual capabilities. Seamlessly integrating with existing systems, AISA streamlines communication, enhances decision-making, and promotes eco-friendly operations. Its responsible design, conscious of ethical compliance and the need to defer to human judgment in critical areas, positions it as a groundbreaking initiative. AISA charts a course towards a safer, more efficient, and globally connected maritime future.
Ship Finance Deal of the Year Award
This Award will recognise a financing solution for a transaction concluded during the evaluation period.
The KPI relating to increasing female seafarers in BWEK's employment is one of the first of its kind in any sustainability-linked ship financing deal. In recent years, increased attention has been paid to the issue of gender disparities in the maritime industry, with women making up just 2% of the global crewing workforce according to recent IMO data. In 2020 the IMO signed an MoU with the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association ("WISTA") aiming to establish a framework for both organisations to promote gender diversity and inclusion as factors in securing a sustainable future for global shipping.
This significant transaction underlines CITIC FL’s commitment to the shipping industry and its willingness to be innovative and adaptable in order to provide practical solutions for global transportation capacity. It is also a testament to WFW’s ability to provide cutting edge and multidisciplinary legal advice to both well established and rising industry players in the Chinese leasing space. The successful completion of the deal is attributable to a collaborative effort of all the parties, involving lessors, shipyards, charterers and legal counsels and most importantly may encourage more participants in the future now that a successful roadmap has been laid out.
Chinese Financial Leasing companies have been exploring Sustainability-linked loan (“SLL”) Shipping Finance for many years as part of their wider endeavour to contribute to maritime decarbonization. This transaction is the first SLL shipping finance term loan issued by a Chinese Financial Leasing company. The most innovative part is negotiating the Sustainability Performance Targets to ensure they are material and ambitious in comparison with international guidelines, peer performance and precedent transactions. The success of this transaction sets up a good benchmark and starting point for more Chinese Financial Leasing companies to avail of sustainable financing and invest in future-ready/energy saving technologies.”
This USD 900 million restructuring was a strategically significant, complex and innovative transaction, which helped the Vroon group transform into a more focused, lean and financially robust international shipping company. This was a ground-breaking, first-of-its-kind restructuring, using a parallel English scheme of arrangement and Dutch WHOA plan (sanctioned within an hour of each other) for the first time to implement a cross-border restructuring of the group’s senior secured debt by way of a ‘debt-for-equity’ swap that involved over 100 vessels and a large group of lenders.
Shipping Company of the Year
This award recognises shipping companies in all market sectors, assessing them in according to their performance, based upon their response to the prevailing market conditions and to the particular challenges of disruptions to trading patterns.
Hapag-Lloyd is a leading global container carrier provides quality container liner shipping services and innovative products. Recently, Hapag-Lloyd launched real-time container tracking for all standard and reefer containers that improved transparency along the supply chain. GPS devices were installed on most Hapag-Lloyd’s standard container fleet by the end of 2023 and 100% by the end of 2024. Hapag-Lloyd’s 150 vessels are being retrofitted to increase efficiency over the next five year for reducing emission. Biofuels were used and Ship-Green product was launched by Hapag-Lloyd, which helped in reducing 80% greenhouse gas emission compared to standard fuels.
OOCL is one of the world’s largest integrated international transportation and logistics companies and is an industry leader in the use of information technology and e-commerce to manage the entire cargo transport process. • We initiated the formation of the blockchain consortium with seven leading ocean carriers and terminal operators, and CargoSmart, to develop the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), an open digital platform based on distributed ledger technology to help network participants improve their shipping and logistics operations. • We have continued to explore new ways of creating additional synergy from our position within the COSCO SHIPPING Group.
As we aim to renew our fleet and move closer to our net zero targets, MSC launched the 24,000+ TEU Celestino Maresca class vessels with the lowest carbon footprint per container carried. The innovative energy-saving features include an optimized hull shape, a small bulbous bow, large-diameter propellers, and energy-saving ducts. Various advanced equipment and systems installed increase the vessels’ safety and efficiency such as 'Vessel Insight' for smart and reliable management in the fleet, advanced augmented reality navigation system, powerful long-jet fire monitors against on-deck fire and a heavy duty anchoring and mooring system.
Our company culture prioritises safety, innovation, and teamwork, empowering our employees to make a difference. Our sustainability initiatives focus on addressing the most important ESG issues for our company and stakeholders. Pacific Basin shows its dedication to the environment through a wide range of investments in technology, operational practices, and initiatives to reduce fuel consumption, emissions, pollution, and other environmental impacts. This comprehensive programme sets a great example of good environmental management, prepares us for future regulatory compliance, and leads to outstanding environmental performance.
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Award
This award will be presented to a maritime organisation in any sector which has, during the evaluation period, shown exceptional responsibility in the way it conducts its business and in its commitment to good corporate governance
COSCO SHIPPING not only starts from saving energy consumption and reducing carbon emission intensity, but also promotes carbon emission reduction through management and technical means, including optimizing route network organization, improving design of vessels and building dual-fuel ships, etc. COSCO SHIPPING is committed to becoming a practitioner and leader of green and low-carbon shipping.
OOCL is one of the world’s largest integrated international transportation and logistics companies and is an industry leader in the use of information technology and e-commerce to manage the entire cargo transport process. • We initiated the formation of the blockchain consortium with seven leading ocean carriers and terminal operators, and CargoSmart, to develop the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), an open digital platform based on distributed ledger technology to help network participants improve their shipping and logistics operations. • We have continued to explore new ways of creating additional synergy from our position within the COSCO SHIPPING Group.
The Company measures the CO2 footprint of shipments and reduces it by using alternative energies, carbon offsets and solutions developed by partner start-ups. The Company also develops the optimization of operations: o SmartShips programme (up to 10% reduction in CO2) o 3 fleets centres to optimise journeys, navigation speed and fuel consumption of the fleet Creation of the Fund for energies ‘PULSE’ (USD$1.5 billion over 5 years) to finance the industrial-scale production of low-carbon energies, low-emission solutions and energy transition. CMA CGM Incubator ZeBox hosts innovative tech start-ups. Creation of Tangram, a collaborative site that focuses on developing skills and accelerating innovation.
South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT), located in the Port of Colombo (PoC) is Sri Lanka’s first public private partnership container terminal. SAGT drives innovation for greener, smarter, and more efficient operations. Focused on long-term sustainability, SAGT partnered with Greenstat Hydrogen to implement a Green Hydrogen Pilot Project within PoC. A feasibility study is underway to map the most optimum project implementation method. Integrating cutting-edge technology, SAGT hybridised its diesel-powered Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes by introducing a battery bank and replacing the existing genset powered by a 425HP diesel engine with a smaller genset powered by a 160HP diesel engine.
A.P. Moller - Maersk has always been a purpose-driven company and we aim to improve life for all by integrating the world. The company is actively working with customers, experts, policy makers and partners to develop platforms and support initiatives that can support global trade to benefit more people by becoming more sustainable and more inclusive; to improve the visibility and optimization of the logistics solutions and reduce GHG emission by technology; to make significant progress in decarbonizing the world supply chain and minimize our impact on the ecosystems; to create the right and engaging environment for all employees.
Sustainable Shipping Award
Sponsored by PSA International
This Award will recognise the introduction of a new product, procedure or measures which will significantly improve the shipping industry’s progress toward the industry’s long-term goals for decarbonisation.
COSCO SHIPPING not only starts from saving energy consumption and reducing carbon emission intensity, but also promotes carbon emission reduction through management and technical means, including optimizing route network organization, improving design of vessels and building dual-fuel ships, etc. COSCO SHIPPING is committed to becoming a practitioner and leader of green and low-carbon shipping.
DNV's Emissions Connect, is an emissions data verification engine and data management platform, designed to help the maritime industry accurately assess and work with emissions data. The solution provides a trusted, verified source of emissions data that can be shared securely with all relevant stakeholders along the maritime value chain. By utilizing historical data and predictive analytics, DNV Emissions Connect enables organizations to forecast future emissions trajectories and simulate the impact of different mitigation strategies. This data-driven decision-making facilitates the development of effective emission reduction plans and supports companies in achieving their environmental targets.
The Company measures the CO2 footprint of shipments and reduces it by using alternative energies, carbon offsets and solutions developed by partner start-ups. The Company also develops the optimization of operations: o SmartShips programme (up to 10% reduction in CO2) o 3 fleets centres to optimise journeys, navigation speed and fuel consumption of the fleet Creation of the Fund for energies ‘PULSE’ (USD$1.5 billion over 5 years) to finance the industrial-scale production of low-carbon energies, low-emission solutions and energy transition. CMA CGM Incubator ZeBox hosts innovative tech start-ups. Creation of Tangram, a collaborative site that focuses on developing skills and accelerating innovation.
OOCL is one of the world’s largest integrated international transportation and logistics companies and is an industry leader in the use of information technology and e-commerce to manage the entire cargo transport process. • We initiated the formation of the blockchain consortium with seven leading ocean carriers and terminal operators, and CargoSmart, to develop the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), an open digital platform based on distributed ledger technology to help network participants improve their shipping and logistics operations. • We have continued to explore new ways of creating additional synergy from our position within the COSCO SHIPPING Group.
Logistics Solution of the Year
This Award will celebrate a new technology or system, or a new infrastructure development introduced within the assessment period, which has made a significant contribution to the advancement of efficiency in the door-to-door movement of cargo.
Maersk China LGS (Lu Gai Shui) Barge Solution refers to converting road transportation to water transportation. This is an integrated solution developed with more than 40 corridors connecting inland ports directly to main ports in China. Through this solution, Maersk intends to offer thousands of Chinese customers with enhanced supply chain resilience and availability, better reliability with cost efficiency, and reduce carbon emission for the shipping industry. We innovate our logistics solution to connect and simplify global supply chain and to enable our customers to stay ahead.
OptETruck is a cloud-based transport management solution which uses AI to facilitate smarter trip planning and eliminate operational inefficiencies for Singapore’s haulier community. One key feature is automated scheduling, which is enabled by real-time resource-matching algorithm and predictive modelling to maximise resource utilization. Another key feature is asset pooling, which enables hauliers and their partners to share resources, optimising their fleet and trips. The successful implementation of OptETruck demonstrates the power of collaborative efforts between end-users and technology providers. Through close collaboration, PSA has built a product that meets the needs of the haulier community, providing a valuable, data-driven solution.
Windward's Ocean Freight Visibility (OFV) solution is an AI based decision-support and exception management platform for logistic operations experts offering a first-of-its-kind Maritime Predicted ETA™, real-time visibility, and predictive insights into shipping milestones, container and vessel journeys and reasons for delays, enabling customers to proactively mitigate supply chain risks. Built on extensive maritime expertise and 12+ years of aggregated data, Windward's OFV solution empowers stakeholders to manage by exception and proactively mitigate supply chain risks while enhancing customer experiences. Windward’s users report a 50% cut in D&D costs, and a 75% reduction in time spent on shipment operations.
Port & Terminal Innovation
This Award will celebrate a new technology or system, or a new infrastructure development introduced within the assessment period, which has made a significant contribution to the advancement of efficiency in the door-to-door movement of cargo.
CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal's implementation of AI-powered automated electric trucks (Q-TRUCK) and supporting technologies is a remarkable step toward its goal of becoming the Middle East's first Smart Terminal. This integrated operation model, which includes conventional trucks as well as Automated Electric Trucks, has the potential to significantly enhance terminal operating efficiency, safety, and sustainability. This strategic implementation of AI-powered trucks can reduce costs by automating time-consuming tasks without human intervention, leading to improved operational efficiency. Electric trucks emit no emissions, which stimulates and helps to reduce carbon emissions.
The initiative is to introduce a complete framework for crude export operations planning and scheduling; one that uses advanced technologies to produce optimum export plans and schedules for Saudi Aramco Terminals. This framework consists of advanced technologies in the areas of machine learning and artificial intelligence to predict a customer’s oil carriers’ parameters, create an optimum lifting plan for monthly operations and to optimally allocate oil carriers to berths for daily operations. This framework has positively impacted Aramco’s oil export operations and enhanced the customer satisfaction.
