Birkenhead-based Mersey Maritime, which represents Liverpool city region’s £4bn maritime sector, won the Coastal Powerhouse category at the Southampton ceremony. Tony McDonough reports
Industry body Mersey Maritime has scooped a top accolade at the first national Maritime UK Awards.
Birkenhead-based Mersey Maritime, which represents Liverpool city region’s £4bn maritime sector, won the Coastal Powerhouse category which sought to recognise the breadth and diversity of every aspect of the maritime industry in the United Kingdom.
Hosted by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, an expert panel of judges revealed their final choice at a gala dinner which took place at The Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour Hotel during the Southampton International Boat Show.
Mersey Maritime chief executive, Chris Shirling-Rooke, said: “On behalf of the 200 businesses that make Mersey Maritime what it is, I am absolutely thrilled to accept this Coastal Powerhouse Award.
“Since we were founded in 2003, our drive has been to transform the Liverpool city region into a coastal powerhouse community. Our values, passion and vision has always been about helping our members to deliver growth and jobs through collaboration across the maritime sector.
“Winning this award once again confirms our reputation as a major player on the national maritime stage.”
Thanks to the work of Mersey Maritime, the Liverpool city region is now recognised as the leading maritime sector cluster in Europe, employing more than 28,000 people across more than 30 sub-sectors.
Mr Shirling Rooke added: “Collaboration and working together as we drive a coastal powerhouse agenda is strengthened by our joint success here at these awards, albeit that there can only be one overall winner.
“Mersey Maritime is committed to delivering the Maritime 2050 agenda set out by the Department for Transport earlier this year and is taking a leading role in the rollout of our network of regional cluster organisations throughout the UK.
“Our expertise in this area is recognised by both Government and the European Commission and our work will continue apace with a packed agenda for the remainder of this year and beyond.”