Great voyages

New Voyage of The Year Award included in the Superyacht Australia Awards program.

12 December 2017

Anticipation builds as applications for the prestigious 2018 Australian Marine Industry Awards open this month. To add to the fantastic line up of award categories Superyacht Australia have announced a new award for 2018, sponsored by Captain Carl Brandes and his wife Melanie Brandes – the Australian Voyage Award.

Captain Carl Brandes desire to sponsor an Australian Voyage Award was inspired by his immensely proud, and completely unexpected moment when he won the Voyagers Award at the World Superyacht Awards held this year in Florence.

“The spectacular Superyacht destinations Australia has to offer, are only limited by the imagination. The Australian climate allows a full 12 months of cruising pleasure, so we have no doubt that the entrant’s itineraries will be rich and diverse, covering all seasons and regions. My wife and I look forward to sharing our experience, and want to offer others the opportunity to feel the pride we felt by winning such a prestigious award.” Captain Carl Brandes stated.

The Australian Voyage Award is presented to the Superyacht that, in the opinion of the judges, completed the most inspirational cruise during 2017 in Australian waters, or the majority in Australian waters. The owner, or a person nominated by the owner (for instance the principal of a charter party but not a member of the crew), must have been aboard for a significant proportion of the cruise.

Superyacht Australia Awards.

The Australian Voyage Award will be judged not only on the voyage but also by the way it is described in text, photos and other media.

To judge an award as niche specific as the Australian Voyage Award, a separate judging panel has been formed and will be made up of a representative from Tourism Australia; Barry Jenkins from Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show; MaryAnne Edwards, Superyacht Australia; Captain Carl and Melanie Brandes from MY Glaze and a representative from Austrade.

The winner will be announced at the Australian Marine Industry Awards Gala Event, held on the evening of the 22 May 2018, at the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove resort, Australia.

Described by past recipients as extremely valuable for brand recognition, positioning and credibility, the Australian Marine Industry awards provide significant global profile for award entrants and winners, 2017 winner Paul Darrouzet, owner of Abell Point Marina, winner of the Superyacht Industry Champion award stated.

“As an Australian entrepreneur and owner of Abell Point Marina I have a vested interest in this industry to create a world-class destination marina at the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands. I am a major advocate of the Superyacht industry in Australia, to be recognised in front of industry for my efforts with the prestigious Superyacht Industry Champion Award was extremely rewarding. Awards like this provide significant profile for our individual businesses and the industry.”

Applications for the 2018 Australian Marine Industry Awards are invited from businesses or individuals who play a part in contributing to the Australian economy and Industry.

Maryanne Edwards CEO of AIMEX and Superyacht Australia stated, “Over the years the awards ceremony has continued to grow in stature and numbers with the calibre of applications becoming stronger. New categories have been introduced to cater for the growing diverse marine sector and to recognise the efforts these companies go to year after year. These awards are a great way for recognising and ensuring the Australian Industry gets the exposure and profile they deserve on the national and global stage.

“This year a great proportion of the entrants and winners of the 2017 Australian Marine Industry awards proceeded to win very prestigious state awards in tourism and business. Thus, reconfirming the high level of standard these Australian companies are working at, making them highly competitive in the global market.”

At this stage the 2018 Judging Panel comprises of Ken Evans (Chair Judge) – Marine Consultant; Barry Jenkins – Government, Industry and International Relations, Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show; John Zammit – Founder and Publisher, Shipmate Marine Directory; Joe Akacich – Managing Director, Blackpond Marine Consultants Pty Ltd and Anton Helmke – Senior Trade Adviser, Advanced Manufacturing Trade Division, Austrade.

Categories for the Australian Marine Industry Awards include:

Export

Most Innovative Marine Industry Exported Product or Service

Export Industry Champion

Best Marine Industry Export Performance

– Small Exporter

– Medium Exporter

– Large Exporter

Best Marine Industry Export Marketing Strategy

2018 Marine Industry Exporter of the year

Superyacht

2018 Superyacht Industry Business of the Year – Service Provider