23 Nov 2022

Maritime UK is launching its national awards programme for 2023, celebrating a sector worth over £116bn to the UK economy and supporting over 1 million jobs. Held for the first time in September 2019, the Maritime UK Awards are run by the industry for the benefit of the industry.

From a judging panel of internationally recognised maritime leaders to an awards evening at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hull, the Maritime UK Awards are a unique and impactful way to showcase a business, and collectively, to celebrate a thriving sector, worth £116bn to the UK economy. Each year the Maritime UK Awards rotate around the UK, having visited Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Glasgow so far, the 2023 Awards visit Hull. The portal for submissions has been opened.

Theme

The Maritime UK Awards are open to organisations from across the breadth of the maritime sector and its component shipping, ports, services, engineering, science, and leisure marine industries.

Since the launch of Maritime 2050 in 2019, which set out the government's vision and ambitions for the future of the sector, the award categories are designed to mirror its themes.

2022 State of the Maritime Nation report

The sector launched the National Shipbuilding Strategy and the development of Freeports

Since 2022, when the sector came together in Glasgow, Maritime UK has published its 2022 State of the Maritime Nation report which revealed the £116bn economic impact of UK maritime, supporting over 1.1 million jobs and paying 30% more than the national average.

The sector has seen significant activity and progress in recent months, with the launch of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the third round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, and the development of Freeports. 

Maritime UK Awards' 2023 venue

The fourth Maritime UK Awards are to be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hull, on Thursday 9 March 2023.

With over 800 years of seafaring history, Hull was chosen as the host for the 2023 awards to shine a light on a city that can be considered a powerhouse for trade and one cementing its position at the heart of a new green industrial revolution. Associated British Ports have been announced as Diamond Sponsors for the 2023 Awards. 

2022 winners and 2023 sponsors

March 2022’s awards were held in Glasgow, where the winners included: Onboard Maritime, Serco, Babcock LGE, Cavendish Nuclear, Artemis Technologies, Plymouth Boat Trips, Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, CyberOwl, Port of Cromarty Firth, Cowes Enterprise College, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, PD Ports, Blackpool and The Fylde College and Peel Ports.

Maritime UK announces the first six category sponsors as Nautilus International (Bevis Minter Award), Trinity House (Future Skills Award), Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (Clean Maritime Innovator), Associated British Ports (Clean Maritime Operator) the Department for Transport (Maritime 2050 Award), Lloyd's Register (Clean Maritime Enabler) and Port of London Authority (Innovation Award).

Renewable energy

We have an incredibly compelling maritime proposition as one of the UK’s largest ports complexes"

The Maritime Minister Baroness Charlotte Vere and Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani MP are both expected to attend. Sarah Kenny, Maritime UK Chair said, “We are hugely excited that Hull will host the Maritime UK Awards. We have been determined that the awards will shine a spotlight on different parts of our maritime nation."

"In Hull and the Humber as a whole, we have an incredibly compelling maritime proposition as one of the UK’s largest ports complex, the fourth largest trading estuary in Northern Europe, and a strong focus on the offshore renewable energy sector.”

Sustainable maritime centre

“2022 has been a year of significant activity for the maritime sector, and there is real momentum across the sector as we target our Maritime 2050 ambitions."

"The 2023 awards will therefore be a fantastic opportunity to showcase and celebrate the growing number of world-leading projects, developments, and initiatives helping to ensure the UK's position as the most innovative, competitive, and sustainable maritime centre by the middle of this century."

Cross-sector programmes

There are opportunities for organisations to sponsor the Maritime UK Awards which will give a company a significant national profile and exposure.

Additionally, the support will help Maritime UK to deliver its cross-sector programmes, including initiatives like Diversity in Maritime and the Careers & Outreach Programme.