The finalists have been revealed for the second Maritime UK Awards. The winners will be announced at a live-streamed event across the world from Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City on 12 November 2020 from 5pm.
The Awards, which will be given to individuals as well as businesses, charities, colleges and universities, focus on a wide range of areas including business growth, innovation, sustainability and diversity. They recognise the very best of the UK’s maritime sector, organised by industry, for the benefit of industry. New categories this year are focused on green growth and decarbonisation; Clean Maritime Operator, Clean Maritime Innovator and Clean Maritime Enabler. They comprise the Department for Transport’s Clean Maritime Awards.
Highly respected experts from a variety of businesses and government departments were involved in the judging panel. The maritime sector is one of the UK’s biggest industries, adding £46.1 billion to the economy every year, and the supporting 1.1 million jobs.
Maritime Minister Robert Courts said: “The 2020 Maritime UK Awards will be an important opportunity for the maritime sector to come together to celebrate its achievements, as well as its significant contribution to the UK’s Covid-19 response. I am delighted that this year’s event includes the DfT’s Clean Maritime Awards, highlighting how our world-leading sector is helping achieve our net-zero and emissions reduction targets.”
Harry Theochari, Chair of Maritime UK, said: “We’re delighted to announce the finalists for the Maritime UK Awards 2020. Across all fourteen categories we can see some genuinely world-beating products, services, and operators. I’m particularly pleased to see some fantastic projects being showcased in the new Clean Maritime categories. Given the importance the sector places on getting to net zero, it is important that we celebrate the progress made on that journey and connect people together so that they can achieve more than on their own. These awards help do just that. The quality of entries this year is testament to the strength and commitment of our maritime sector to be world-class despite the most challenging of circumstances.”
Ben Murray, Director of Maritime UK, said: “We were determined that these awards would go ahead, and in an ideal world would have been one of the first occasions at which colleagues from across the sector could come back together following COVID-19. With that not being possible due to new restrictions, we think it’s really important to celebrate the remarkable work that has been going on – in responding to COVID-19, and in spite of it – which sends a message of resilience and ambition.”
The 2020 awards are hosted by Maritime UK South West and delivered by Plymouth City Council. Diamond Sponsors are the MLA College and the University of Plymouth.
Tickets to the live-streamed event are free and open to everyone. To register visit the official website.