Entries are now invited across a range of categories that celebrate excellence in boat builders and the individuals, teams and supply chain partners that make them great. After last year’s online edition, the 2021 Awards Ceremony will be celebrated in person on Wednesday 17 November in RAI Amsterdam, in accordance with RAI’s stringent COVID-19 protocol. In addition, a special Boat Builder Awards programme will be broadcast via the all-new METSTRADE TV on Thursday 18 November. Nominations for the Boat Builder Awards are free.
The Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement, jointly run by IBI and METSTRADE in association with Raymarine, recognises the significant contributions of individuals, teams and supply chain partners within boat building companies globally. This prestigious and widely recognised awards programme has been supported since inception in 2015 by headline sponsor, Raymarine.
The critical influence of boat and superyacht production and refit activity across the whole industry cannot be under-estimated. The 2021 edition of the Boat Builder Awards returns, following a special COVID online edition last year, in a format that is appropriate to ongoing pandemic impacts around the world. It will celebrate awards in six categories spanning design, innovation, collaborative working, environmental responsibility, marketing and personal achievement.
Entry to the Boat Builder Awards is free and the organisers encourage anyone in the marine industry to nominate.
Safe and accessible format for awards evening
The awards evening this year will be held in the controlled environment of RAI Amsterdam with appropriate safety measures according to RAI’s stringent COVID-19 protocol, on Wednesday 17 November at the end of METSTRADE that day. The top-named companies will also be featured on METSTRADE TV within a special Boat Builder Awards programme. Viewers around the world who cannot make it to the Amsterdam presentation will be able to see the results, post-event.
Chairman of the Judges, IBI Editor Ed Slack, explains: “Following the highly successful fully locked-down running of the Boat Builder Awards last December, we have worked in close partnership with our colleagues at METSTRADE to create a transitional format for 2021. It will meet our desire to celebrate achievement across a number of key areas while matching the mood and requirements for the whole marine industry as it gradually emerges from the pandemic. We’ve chosen six categories this year that we know are highly relevant to current circumstances and are looking forward to judging a very strong field of entries for each one.”
METSTRADE director Niels Klarenbeek continues: “The enormous appetite among exhibitors and visitors to come together again in Amsterdam has been both inspiring and humbling. Last year’s positive reaction to the online Boat Builder Awards, in association with Raymarine and hosted on METSTRADE Connect, was a reminder of why it is so important to highlight the critical role of the boat building sector for the whole marine industry. Working closely with IBI, using the facilities here at RAI Amsterdam and our new METSTRADE TV channel, we have excellent plans in place for the 2021 Boat Builder Awards. We look forward with anticipation to celebrate the sector’s successes and the teams and individuals that make it all happen, in person and online.”
Award Categories
Collaborative Solution between Boat or Superyacht Builder and its Supply Chain Partner
Sponsored by Ultraflex
This award recognises boat and superyacht builders or refit yards and supply chain partners such as equipment manufacturers that have collaborated from a conceptual stage as if working in one team to develop a particular solution to a design challenge, innovation or efficiency improvement.
Innovative On-Board Design Solution – for boat builder and shipyard companies or boat design companies nominating a specific yacht solution
Sponsored by Fusion Entertainment
The Innovative On-Board Design Solution Award recognises boat and superyacht builders that have developed a specific design feature that transforms their end users’ on-board experience.
Environmental Initiative – for boat builder and shipyard companies
Sponsored by Confindustria Nautica
Boat builders nominated for this award will highlight any change that targets sustainability. Examples include lifecycle awareness, reducing the operational impact of boats and yachts and improving production processes, as well as recycling initiatives and support of environmental improvement projects.
Retail Marketing Initiative – for boat builder and shipyard companies
Sponsored by Kohler Power Systems
This category recognises advances in retail marketing where the builder, working alone or with a dealer, has demonstrated real innovation in marketing to end users. Examples could include campaigns, boat show initiatives, successful partnerships, dealer promotions and responses to COVID-19 restrictions.
Rising Star – for individuals working for a boat builder or shipyard
Sponsored by Lumishore
Individuals nominated in this category will be aged 35 or under, working for a boat builder and will have been making a growing impact on any aspect of their business, from design and production, to management, buying and any other boat building discipline. Nominees should be no older than age 35 on 16 November 2021.
Lifetime Achievement Award – for individuals working for a boat builder or shipyard
Sponsored by Sleipner
We invite nominations to this special award for a person who has made a lifetime’s contribution as a boat builder. Nominees will have made a significant impact on the boat building businesses that they have been associated with in their careers.
The Boat Builder Awards is held in association with Raymarine and is additionally supported by award event drinks sponsor, Propspeed.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
Further information and entry
The 2021 edition of the Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement, in association with Raymarine, will be held in the controlled environment of RAI Amsterdam with appropriate safety measures according to RAI’s stringent COVID-19 protocol, between 17:30-20:30 on Wednesday 17 November, at the end of METSTRADE that day. A Boat Builder Awards programme on METSTRADE TV, co-hosted by Ed Slack of IBI, will broadcast online via METSTRADE.com on Thursday 18 November.
Entry to the Boat Builder Awards is free and open to boatbuilders, shipyards, and manufacturers of leisure boats and superyachts or, for some categories, those employed by them. Nominations can be made by anyone in the marine industry.
