Kenya Ports Authority’s (KPA) second East Africa Maritime Awards (EAMA) ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 21, 2021 in Mombasa, Kenya. This is a strategic initiative to promote excellent services provision and overall industry development by recognizing exception service providers.
The awards targets notable users of the Port of Mombasa, individual players and companies from across the breadth of the maritime sector, comprising the shipping, ports, services, engineering, and leisure marine industries with operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking in Mombasa, Kenya Ports Authority Ag. Managing Director Eng. Rashid Salim said the Awards had come at a time the local, regional, and global economy were facing a period of significant challenge following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The award seeks to recognize organizations and individuals who have played a defining role in moving the industry forward by demonstrating achievement across a wide variety of domains including efficiency sustainability, innovation excellence and operational compliance.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has tested all sectors of the economies globally. However, the maritime business has remained resilient, enabling, and sustaining regional trade. Once we’re through this immediate period of challenge, it’s going to be important to come together and plan for the future,” Eng. Salim said.
Added he; “A future, which, despite coronavirus, will still be presenting us with substantial challenges such as responding to climate change. In many ways, therefore, the current pandemic makes this year’s EAMA more important than before.”
The award is being organized in partnerships with the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade), Shippers Council of Eastern Africa (SCEA) and East African Business Council (EABC).
The awards have been grouped into nine (9) clusters based on their maritime functionality and service offering with a total of 27 distinct categories including: Exporter of the Year, Importer of the Year, Best Cargo Transporter, Best Cargo Freight Station.
Other categories include Best Regional Cargo logistics provide, Best Clearing and Forwarding Agent (for each participating country), Best Warehousing Company, Best Shipping Line, Best Shipping Agent (Liner Agency), Best Shipping Agent (Tramp Agency), Best Shipping Agent (Coastal and Inland Shipping), Best Cargo Consolidator, Partner Government Agency, and Private Sector Business Membership Organization (each participating country.
This year, the award will also cover other areas such as Auxiliary Service Awards (Bunkering, Ship Chandling, Marine surveys, Ship contracting, Pre-shipment inspection), Financial Services, Marine Cargo Insurance Services, Maritime Education & Training, Environmental Protection, Occupational Health & Safety, Innovation, Corporate Social Investment, Outstanding Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME), Maritime Journalist (for each participating country), Young Achiever, Outstanding Woman, and Lifetime Achievement.
Interested companies and individuals have until February 26, 2021 to submit their entries.
