Abu Dhabi Ports, the developer, operator and regulator of ports in the emirate of Abu Dhabi held its inaugural Abu Dhabi Ports Customer Awards.
The event celebrated the achievements of the last year which saw record cargo volumes handled in all sectors. The winning customers were applauded for their business growth, for their professional best practice and their contribution to the Emirates growing regional and global trade volumes.
The inaugural awards recognized the top performing customers in each cargo category for both import and export. Likewise the top cruise line, the best shipping agency, the top container line, RORO carrier, break bulk and dry bulk shipping line customers were thanked and recognized for their very significant contribution to the Emirates growing import and export trade.
Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO Abu Dhabi Ports led the proceedings, thanking customers for their business activities, which combined and supported by Abu Dhabi Ports, are helping to realise the economic vision laid out by the Emirate’s leadership.
“Abu Dhabi Ports’ inaugural customer awards offered a valuable opportunity to celebrate and congratulate our customers on their growing business profitability. We also thank our stakeholders for their trust, guidance and support and we express our gratitude to all of our employees without whom our business growth and achievements would not be possible.”
The award winners included Costa Cruises which won the Cruise Line of the Year award. The shipping line with the highest volume growth in 2014 was the multi-modal transport company Mitsui OSK Lines. The most prestigious award of the evening was the Customer of the Year award, this year given to Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA). The company is the anchor tenant in the aluminium cluster in the Khalifa industrial zone and has its own dedicated berth at Khalifa Port for dry bulk imports.
Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi added: “We are pleased to honour EGA as our customer of the year. The company’s operations drive development in the aluminium cluster, clearly demonstrating the supply chain efficiencies envisaged in the design and concept of Khalifa Port and its interlinked trade and industrial zone.”
The other winners of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Ports Customer Awards 2014 included Sharaf Shipping Agency, which was awarded Shipping Agency of the year. The feeder operator of the year is Xpress Feeders and the container line of the year is MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company). The RORO carrier of the year is NYK Line and Emirates Steel won two awards for both its import and export business.
The Abu Dhabi Ports ‘Importers of the Year’ winners included; for containers – Al Dahra, for break bulk – Al Ghurair Iron & Steel, for dry bulk – Emirates Steel and for RORO – Al Futtaim Motors.
The Abu Dhabi Ports ‘Exporters of the Year’ included, for containers – Borouge in recognition of its strategic alignment with Abu Dhabi Ports and the company’s expanding business using both Khalifa Port and the Kizad trade and industrial zone, for break bulk – Emirates Steel – the company’s second award win of the night, and lastly for dry bulk – Star Cement.
Abu Dhabi Ports core objective is to facilitate trade and development across the region, thereby driving the diversification of the economy and supporting the objectives of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision.