Shortlist Announced for IBI-METSTRADE Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement 2018
33 companies and organisations named as potential winners for this year’s Awards, to be honoured at a spectacular dinner within Amsterdam’s historic National Maritime Museum on 13 November during METSTRADE 2018.
The shortlisted nominations for the Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement 2018, in association with Raymarine, have been announced. With more than 60 nominations still to be considered after a first round of assessment, the 27 shortlisted companies from 12 countries named by the judges are considered the standout entries at this stage and it is from this group that the Winners and Honourable Mentions will be announced on 13 November.
Now in its fourth year, the prestigious Boat Builder Awards recognises and rewards the outstanding business achievements of individuals and teams across key areas in the global leisure boatbuilding industry. Between 300 and 350 guests are expected to attend an extraordinary gala dinner celebration, which is held under the glittering dome of the National Maritime Museum.
Chair of the judging panel and IBI Editor, Ed Slack, commented, “This year’s Boat Builder Awards set the panel of judges many challenges, to identify the very best of the best from a strong entry field. It is informative to look back over just the one year and see how rapidly the boatbuilding industry is evolving to deal with its key pressures – such as addressing changing customer preferences, improving manufacturing efficiency and quality, reducing environmental footprint and tackling skills shortages. There are impressive examples within our shortlist of responses to these pressures. The Awards is not only a great opportunity to celebrate the efforts of individual boatbuilders, but also to reflect on our industry’s impressive capability to reinvent itself with the times.”
Group Director Maritime at RAI Amsterdam, Irene Dros, added, “The innovative work of boatbuilders has so much influence over the products that are exhibited by more than 1600 exhibitors at METSTRADE. Our celebration of the huge achievements of global boat manufacturers, shipyards and their supply chains, has become a firm fixture here in Amsterdam – which for the three days of METSTRADE becomes the beating heart of the global marine industry. On behalf of our partner, IBI and title sponsor, Raymarine, I very much look forward to welcoming our largest audience yet to the Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement 2018 on our new Tuesday evening date, 13 November. It will be a night for stars, under the stars, and a fantastic opportunity to network with friends and new faces.”
The shortlist is as follows:
Retail Marketing Initiative
Groupe Beneteau
Princess Yachts
International Distributor or Dealer Development
sponsored by Wells Fargo
Brig
Sea Ray
Collaborative Solution between a production boat builder and its supply chain partner
sponsored by Ultraflex
Axopar Boats, working with Brabus
Prestige Yachts, working with Lewmar
Sealine, working with Lewmar
Sunseeker International, working with Lewmar
Solaris Yachts, working with Sailectron
Collaborative Solution between a superyacht builder and its supply chain partner
sponsored by Lumishore
Benetti, working with Naiad Dynamics
Lürssen, working with BSS Baumann Sicherheitssysteme
Innovative Onboard Design Solution
sponsored by Fusion
ENATA Marine
Ferretti
Galeon
Mastercraft Boat Co
Princess Yachts
SEAir
Innovation in a Production Process
sponsored by Dometic
Absolute Yachts
Amer Yachts
Environmental Initiative
sponsored by UCINA
Amer Yachts
Discovery Yachts
Silent-Yachts
Vita Yachts
Best Apprenticeship or Training Scheme
sponsored by Marine Resources
Group Beneteau
Marine Industry Association of South Africa and National Department of Trade
NZ Marine and Composites Industry Training Organisation
Princess Yachts
South Devon College Noss Marine Academy and Korea Marine Education Academy
Rising Star
sponsored by Gurit
This special new category celebrates those aged 35 or under, working for a boat builder, who have been making a growing impact on any aspect of their business. The judges will be selecting a winner, to be announced on the evening.
Lifetime Achievement
sponsored by Side-Power
The awards evening culminates with the much-anticipated Lifetime Achievement Award, presented in the previous three years to Paolo Vitelli of Azimut Benetti, Robert Braithwaite, CBE of Sunseeker International and David King of Princess Yachts.