Posted on: 10 May 2015
Eminent figures from across the shipping industry gathered in London’s Guildhall on May 6, 2015 to honour the achievements of the past year and the distinguished careers of winners at the 27th Seatrade Awards.
The prestigious evening, attended by more than 350 of the industry’s leading personalities, was hosted by international broadcaster and journalist, Todd Benjamin, in the presence of guest of honour, Alderman The Lord Mountevans, the current Chairman of both Maritime London and Maritime UK.
A broker at Clarksons, Lord Mountevans welcomed guests to Guildhall, which falls within Cheap, his ward within the City of London and said: “What an event, what an audience. Looking over the list of those attending I think that many of you and the firms that you represent deserve to be honoured.”
Among those collecting awards were five key industry names: Captain Panagiotis Tsakos, Founder and Chairman of Tsakos Group who received the Seatrade Lifetime Achievement Award; Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization who received the Seatrade Personality Award; George Logothetis, CEO, Libra Group who received the Seatrade Young Person in Shipping Award; Colonel (retd) John Steed, Director, Oceans Beyond Piracy who received the Seatrade Awards for Countering Piracy and Wan Min, Executive VP, COSCO, who received the Seatrade Global Performer Award.
On receiving his award, Capt. Tsakos said: “The success of the company I have set up is not the accomplishment of one man, one family or even one generation. It is rather the collective outcome of hard work and ongoing sacrifices made by many generations, initiated by our forefathers who planted in us the seed of seamanship, and a devotion to the sea.”
IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu added his comments on receiving his award, which he devoted to his wife, saying: “I would like to humbly receive this great honour for all people who support the IMO, including all the staff members of the secretariat and my family”.
The awards, in time old tradition, remain a secret until the night and are unveiled to great fanfare and celebration.
