Mersey Maritime marks 20th anniversary with its biggest Mersey Maritime Industry Awards to date at Liverpool Cathedral – see all the winners. Tony McDonough reports

Mersey Maritime held its eighth annual awards at Liverpool Cathedral – an event that also celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Around 600 guests attended the Mersey Maritime Industry Awards, making it the biggest so far. And in an emotional climax to the evening, former managing director – port logistics, Peel Ports Group, Gary Hodgson, was surprised with the Maritime Ambassador Award.

Peel Ports put Liverpool back in the premier league of global ports with the building and opening of the Liverpool2 container terminal. Gary played a key role in the opening and delivery of the project.

Mersey Maritime said it was “immensely proud” to mark Gary’s long and wide-ranging career in the industry. He was also previously a member of the board of the organisation. D Morgan plc stopped the Business of the Year Award.

Preparations for the awards saw more than 100 individual applications on behalf of more than 50 different businesses and organisations.

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Applications were received from the whole cross section of the industry and its associated sub-sectors and went forward to the well-established judging process. This comprised an assessment by an expert panel and then an industry wide vote.

More than 2,500 votes were cast, marking unprecedented interest from across the maritime sector.

A keynote address was given by the Minister of State in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Nusrat Ghani. She told those assembled: “Mersey Maritime has been making a difference to the marine industry in Merseyside, and across the UK, for 20 years.”

Chris Shirling-Rooke, chief executive of Mersey Maritime, said: “2022 marks a very special point in the life of Mersey Maritime. 

“What a better way for us to celebrate our 20 years of championing the industry than by bringing hundreds of our maritime family together at our biggest and most spectacular annual awards event yet.

“These awards give vital recognition to the world-class standards on display in this region and reinforces our position as a global maritime centre of excellence.

“Mersey Maritime was conceived to create an ecosystem, championing and supporting one of the most diverse maritime regions in the world. We are incredibly proud of our role in facilitating a thriving and internationally significant cluster.”

Full list of winners: 

• Best Newcomer Award, sponsored by Brookes Bell: LCR Freeport
• Business of the Year, sponsored by OPS Wind: D Morgan plc
• Diversity and Inclusion Award, sponsored by Chevron: Liverpool Seafarers Centre
• Employer of the Year, sponsored by Kays Medical: Maersk
• Environmental, Social & Governance Award, sponsored by Wirral Waters: Bibby Marine
• Global Performance Award, sponsored by BAE Systems: Polaris Media Management
• Logistics Solution of the Year, sponsored by Carmet Tug: CMA CGM
• Maritime 2050 Award, sponsored by Liverpool John Moores University: Expleo Group
• Maritime Ambassador Award, sponsored by Beech Group: Gary Hodgson
• Moving on the Mersey Award, sponsored by Royal HaskoningDHV: Cruise Liverpool
• Outstanding SME Performance Award, sponsored by Denholm UK Logistics: Walker Engineering
• Regional Deal of the Year, sponsored by Fort Recruitment: Nautilus International
• Rising Star Award, sponsored by Royal Navy: Charlotte McCarthy from Stone Marine Shipcare 
• Technology & Innovation Award, sponsored by MTC: RealSphere Eco World

Diamond sponsors for the event were BAE Systems, Chevron, Kays Medical and Liverpool John Moores University. Drinks reception sponsors were Hill Dickinson and the after party sponsor was D Morgan.

Category sponsors included: Beech Group, Brookes Bell, Carmet Tug, Denholm UK Logistics, Fort Recruitment, Manufacturing Technology Centre, OPS Wind, Royal HaskoningDHV, the Royal Navy and Wirral Waters.