Award Categories2026 Award Categories & Definitions
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The Safety and Security Award
This award recognises the best safety and security improvement initiatives introduced in the past year. Judges will be looking for evidence of successful safety and security programmes, including accounts of investment in safety training, changes to the company’s safety culture and improvements in terms of lost time accidents where relevant. They will also be looking for evidence on how initiatives have improved the security of personnel, vessels and facilities in the region.
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The Environment Protection Award
This award recognises the contribution made by an organisation or company towards achieving the maritime industry’s goal of preventing harm to the natural environment. That could include measures or technology to protect underwater marine life and ecosystems or to enhance air quality, for example. Nominees can submit examples of technical and operational initiatives which have already reduced underwater, or air pollution caused by maritime activity, either at sea or in port, or which will allow the maritime sector to do so in future. It will also be open to those companies that have introduced more environmentally sustainable ways of working, or which have carried out specific projects to protect, or repair parts of the natural environment damaged by, or at risk from shipping activity.
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The Green Shipping Award
Environmental performance is an increasingly important benchmark for all companies in the shipping industry today. This award will be presented to a company which has led the way in environmentally responsible shipping, with a new product, project or initiative that has significantly improved the protection of the environment. Particular weight will be given to companies that can demonstrate important initiatives that will accelerate shipping’s journey to carbon neutrality.
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The Technology / Innovations Award
Innovation is vital to success in the shipping business and this award will recognise a project, product or process that is demonstrably new and innovative, and which has contributed positively to an individual organisation and/or the industry generally. Judges will be looking for evidence to show that the project, product or process being put forward is genuinely different, raises the bar higher and helps puts users ahead of competitors. The judges will take into account its uniqueness, the concept behind it and its delivery and execution. The award is open to all companies that supply the shipping industry with technological solutions, including IT related systems, as well as shipping companies that have developed technology in-house.
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The TMS Digital Transformation Award
The award will be presented to the maritime company based in the region that has best harnessed digital technology, including AI and other cutting edge solutions, to improve their operations and customer facing services, as well as to deliver improvements in other areas such as safety and sustainability. It will also be open to digital technology companies that have worked with companies in the maritime sector to accelerate their digital transformation journeys
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The Sustainable Shipping Award
The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all, addressing a range of global challenges. The intention is that all goals should be achieved by 2030. The TMS Sustainable Shipping Award recognises a company that has made significant progress towards achieving one or more of the 17 goals, listed clearly on https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/ In particular TMS would welcome evidence of specific initiatives and actions to achieve: SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 9: Industry, innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 13: Climate Action; and SDG 14: Preserving Life Under Water.
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TMS Award for Technical Support Services
This award will be presented to a company which provides technical support services to the shipping industry, and which has demonstrated high levels of achievement and innovation over the past year. The award is open to all companies that provide technical support services to shipping and maritime, and this may include surveyors, assessors, engineers, design consultants and IT specialists, among others.
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The Corporate Social Responsibility Award
This award will be presented to the company which has shown a particularly strong commitment to CSR and to employee and community welfare and has shown creativity and innovation in the use of CSR initiatives. The judges will be particularly looking for evidence of clear outcomes from these programmes.
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Maritime Energy, Oil and Gas Award
This Award will be presented to a company that is active in the maritime energy sector, including the oil, gas and sustainable energy markets, in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Judges will be looking for evidence of high levels of quality in terms of overall performance over the course of the past year. Criteria will include a demonstrable commitment to operational efficiency; recent and planned investment in the development of maritime energy supplies, and logistical support and technology; operational safety; staff training and well-being; and environmental protection.
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Shipyard / Ship Repair Facility of the Year
This award will be presented to a shipyard, carrying out newbuilding, repair or conversion projects, which has clearly outperformed its rivals in the region. Performance will be judged according to the volume of work carried out; investment in additional or new facilities; innovative vessel design work; the delivery of significant retrofit and conversion projects; commercial performance; and clear commitment to improved safety and environmental performance.
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Transportation and Logistics Award
This award is open to companies that provide overland road or rail transportation services or operate logistics related facilities including warehousing and free zone facilities, within the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Judges will be looking for innovation in providing a range of transportation and logistics services and a commitment to meeting the needs of customers in terms of efficient and cost-effective services. Nominees will also be asked to demonstrate how they have embraced new technology to improve performance and to show how they have expanded the scale and scope of their operations within the region over the course of the year.
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The Maritime Education and Training Award
This award recognises an educational institution, organisation or an individual that has made a major contribution to maritime education or training in the region. Judges are looking for examples of excellence and leadership in this field and a commitment to delivering high value professional or academic education or training to improve the efficiency of shipping and related sectors across the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent.
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Bulk Shipping Company of the Year
This award will be presented to a company involved in the transportation and/or handling of dry bulk goods that has achieved exceptional success. This could be a bulk carrier operator; a port or terminal operator with dry bulk handling facilities; a ship agent supporting dry bulk shipping and port operations; or any other service provider for the dry bulk transportation sector. The winner will be determined through an assessment of a range of criteria, including: commitment to support and develop the dry bulk trade in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent region; recent investments in vessels, equipment, facilities and technology; innovative and successful business strategies; environmental protection initiatives; diversification into new trades; financial performance; and corporate social responsibility commitments.
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Maritime Law Firm of the Year
The award will be presented to a law firm which either specialises in maritime law or has a significant maritime law practice, which has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and skill in representing clients and contributing to the development of maritime law capability within the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. This will be determined through an assessment of a range of criteria, including commitment to customer services; the range of legal services offered; expansion of networks and legal services team strength, notable cases involved with over the past year and successful advocacy in those cases.
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Marine Insurer of the Year
The award will be presented to an insurance company offering services to the maritime sector that has demonstrated exemplary professionalism and skill in representing clients and contributing to the development of maritime insurance within the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. The category is open to a range of Marine Insurance sector practitioners, including marine cargo, hull& machinery, energy and offshore, protection and indemnity (P&I), freight and war risk insurers, as well as reinsurers and marine insurance brokers. This will be determined through an assessment of a range of criteria, including: new marine insurance initiatives; expansion of networks and team strength; financial performance and innovative approaches to business development.
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Ship Manager of the Year
The Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent are home to a number of fast-growing and increasingly influential ship management businesses. The award will be presented to a ship management company that has demonstrated particularly high levels of effectiveness in managing commercial vessels and in particular in ensuring high levels of performance, quality and safety, in growing its business over recent years, as well as ensuring crew health and safety.
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Ship Agency of the Year
This award will be presented to the Ship Agency which in the opinion of the judges has made the biggest contribution in the past 12 months to the shipping industry in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. This will be assessed against a range of criteria including: investments made to expand and develop the business; innovative approaches to business development and customer service; the embracing of new technology and digitalisation; new products and services launched; new business secured; and significant increases in volume of cargo and/or passengers handled for clients.
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Heavylift/Project Cargo Company of the Year
This award will be presented to a company involved in the shipping, transportation and/or handling of heavy lift and/or project cargoes that has achieved exceptional success. This could be a heavy lift vessel operator; a port or terminal operator with heavy lift/project cargo handling facilities; a ship agent supporting heavy lift or project cargo operations; or any other service provider for the heavy lift/ project cargo transportation sector. The winner will be determined through an assessment of a range of criteria, including commitment to support and develop the heavylift/project cargo trade in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent region; recent investments in vessels, equipment, facilities and technology; innovative and successful business strategies; environmental protection initiatives; diversification into new trades; financial performance; and corporate social responsibility commitments.
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Offshore Support Operator of the Year
This award is open to transportation and shipping companies that support the offshore oil gas sector in the region, for example through the operation and management of offshore support vessels, the provision of repair and other engineering services; and general logistics services by land, sea or rail. Judges will be looking for innovation in providing a range of services to the offshore segment and a commitment to meeting the needs of customers in this key area of the regional economy. Nominees will be expected to show how they have embraced new technology to improve performance and to demonstrate that they have expanded the scale and scope of their operations within the region over the course of the year.
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Tanker Operator of the Year
This award will be presented to the operator of crude oil, products or chemicals tankers based in the Middle East and/or the Indian Subcontinent that has delivered a particularly high level of performance over the year. This will be determined through an assessment of a range of criteria, including: investments in new or second hand tankers; the development of additional shipping services; diversification into new trades; the use of innovative technological solutions; financial performance; and strong environmental commitments.
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Ship Owner / Operator of the Year
This award will be presented to the ship owner or operator based in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent which in the opinion of the judges has demonstrated the most exceptional level of performance during the year. This will be assessed against a range of criteria including innovation in the face of environmental challenges; investments in vessels and shipping related services; expansion of service networks; financial performance; and ensuring crew health and safety.
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Classification Society of the Year
This award will be presented to the Classification Society which in the opinion of the judges has made the biggest contribution during the period under review to the shipping and related sectors in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. This will be assessed against a number of criteria including innovation and the use of new technology; commitment to supporting shipping in the region; network outreach and spread of offices across the region; work on new ship designs; environmental initiatives; and increase in the size of classed fleet in the region.
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Terminal Operator of the Year
This award will be presented to an operator of a container, general cargo or specialist terminal who has demonstrated consistently high levels of performance, commercial success and has also shown a commitment to invest and expand. This will be determined through an assessment of a range of criteria, including investments in infrastructure and equipment; the adoption of new technology including automation and digitalisation; productivity levels; significant business wins; commercial performance; and improvements in safety and environmental awareness.
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Port of the Year
The Port of the Year award will go to a Middle East or the Indian Subcontinent port which, in the opinion of the judges, has made the biggest contribution to the development of port infrastructure in the region. Judges will assess the rationale behind development projects, the investment involved, the project delivery, and any innovative features or aspects of the project. The impact of the project on the wider economy will also be taken into account.
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Shipping Company of the Year
This award recognises the achievements of a shipping company that has been through a significant process of change and improvement, and whose activities have had a particularly significant effect on the region’s maritime sector. Judges will be looking for explanations as to how and why the transformation was made, the strategic rationale behind it, the benefits to the organisation and to customers, investments made to support the change and how the company plans to build further of the achievement. The judges will also be looking for a company that has set high standards of customer service, safety, environmental performance, and has contributed positively to the development of shipping in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent during the previous 12 months.
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Deal of the Year
This award recognises the best deal achieved by a company involved in the maritime industry, including ports and shipping. The company or organisation will be based in the Middle East or the Indian Subcontinent and will have either secured a contract or order for the supply of products or services, made a particularly astute purchase of products of services; or secured significant investment in the region’s shipping and ports sector.
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The Maritime Standard Young Person in Shipping
This Award will be presented to a shipping or ports executive under the age of 40 who has demonstrated that they have made a significant impact within their organisation, or chosen field, and has shown the potential to achieve even greater things in future. Nominations will not be taken for this Award.
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The Maritime Standard Woman in Shipping Award
This Award will be presented to a female executive in the shipping and maritime sector who has made a significant contribution over the past year. They will have shown exceptional leadership qualities and made a genuinely long-lasting impact within their field of work.Nominations will not be taken for this Award.
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The Maritime Standard Editor’s Choice Award
This award is presented to an executive or organisation which, in the opinion of the TMS editor, has shown particular leadership qualities over the past year, and has demonstrated a high level of achievement and made a valuable contribution to the industry in the region over the past year. Nominations will not be taken for this Award.
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The Maritime Standard Excellence Award
This Award will be presented to an individual who has made a particularly exceptional contribution to any sector in the shipping and maritime industry over a sustained period of time, that is above and beyond the call of duty. This person will have made a real difference to the shipping and maritime business in the region, through their skills, professionalism, and hard work, and have shown themselves to be clearly ‘excellent’ in their field. Nominations will not be taken for this Award.
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The Maritime Standard Personality of the Year
This Award will be presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to any sector in the shipping and maritime industry in the past year, and who has shown clear individual leadership qualities, raising the profile of their business in the process. Nominations will not be taken for this Award.
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TMS Outstanding Achievement Award
This award is presented to someone active in the maritime sector who has clearly delivered a high level of performance, with demonstrably positive outcomes, over a sustained period of time, to the benefit both of their organisation and the industry generally. Nominations will not be taken for this Award.
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The Maritime Standard Lifetime Achievement Award
This Award will be presented to a leading industry figure who has made an outstanding contribution to the shipping and maritime industry during his/her career. Nominations will not be taken for this Award.
