Global awareness of Dubai as an international maritime hub is fast taking hold and the Dubai International Maritime Awards…
Global awareness of Dubai as an international maritime hub is fast taking hold and the Dubai International Maritime Awards (DIMA), the maritime awards which honour top achievers in West and Central Asia, are assisting by changing the mind-set of the regional sector, according to leading UAE industry player.
Captain Jitendra Misra, Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers` (ICS) UAE branch, says key international players are now moving into the market heightening competition that comes with growth.
Capt. Misra, who is also Managing Director of Emarat Maritime LLC of Dubai, is on the judging panel of DIMA 2005, the second in the annual series which will be presented at a gala dinner in December. The awards will coincide with Middle East Money & Ships 2005 – the Middle East conference for maritime financiers, insurers, lawyers, banks and investors – being held at the Grand Hyatt, Dubai from December 12-13.
The DIMA awards are promoting quality recognition throughout the region and are also helping the awareness campaign of Dubai as a marine hub, said Capt. Misra. They are a vehicle for developing quality and innovation and are helping to change the mind-set of the industry.
International maritime publisher and events organiser, Seatrade, has issued a call for entries for this year`s DIMA awards, which have been expanded to include four new honours covering outstanding contributions to the dry bulk shipping, liner shipping, energy transport and maritime services sectors.
The awards reflect the growth in the regional industry, said Capt. Misra.
Growth can also be gauged by the fact that the UAE branch of the ICS has expanded from just nine members in 1996 when launched to more than 80 today and we anticipate around 10 new members being admitted yearly.
The ICS growth is largely due to greater awareness of the Institute and increasing recognition that quality must prevail within the industry and the fact that many companies are now demanding ICS qualifications for certain posts.
All this bodes well for an industry which is fast developing. Dubai is becoming an international maritime hub, certainly the global industry is aware of the emirate`s potential and the Government`s commitment to the industry, which is reiterated by emergence of Dubai Maritime City.
A number of major new ship-broking companies have recognised this potential and are setting up offices in Dubai. Whilst the main focus is on the liquid markets and the chemical and LPG/LNG trades, a number of broking houses have also geared up to cater to dry bulk ship owners. Perhaps with ship finance being readily available locally in the near future, one can expect specialist sale and purchase brokers to also enter this market.
Capt. Misra will serve on a cross-global industry DIMA judging panel which will be chaired by Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization.
DIMA are sponsored by Charter Trade Global LLC, Dubai Drydocks, Lloyd`s Register and GAC. They are supported and endorsed by Dubai Maritime City and Dubai Ports Authority. The deadline for DIMA entries is September 28.
Photo: Capt. Misra
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