IBI and METSTRADE have announced the continuance of their decade-long collaboration with headline sponsor Raymarine to produce the globally unique Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement, culminating in a celebratory dinner under the starlit canopy of the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam on Wednesday 20 November.
The Boat Builder Awards was founded to cast a spotlight on the industry’s essential endeavours of boat building companies, personnel, and allied trades. This year’s awards has opened for entries with categories that draw strong focus on three key pillars that lie at the heart of future sector success – innovation, the environment, and people.
Niels Klarenbeek, Director of METSTRADE, the largest global gathering for leisure marine professionals, underscores the important role of innovation in advancing boat building: “A decade ago, IBI and METSTRADE recognised an opportunity to spotlight industry pioneers. The awards have become a cornerstone of yacht building, showcasing remarkable winners. Their success is often achieved in partnership with METSTRADE’s exhibitors, and the awards continue to chart industry progress, navigating through changing tides with elegance and culminating in a memorable celebration of excellence during METSTRADE.”
“The Boat Builder Awards’ first big anniversary provides plenty of reason to reflect on welcome progress,” continues Ed Slack, Editorial Director of IBI. “As our awards have highlighted, this was a foundation decade for many of the developments we are seeing from boat manufacturers and the people that make it happen. Progress and innovation are all around us and in anticipation of a record number of candidates for this year’s 10th anniversary we’ve opened early for entries this year. It provides a six-month window for entrants and an opportunity for our judges to get on with their task of assessment at the earliest moment. We look forward to seeing our most impressive line-up of nominees yet for this edition of the Boat Builder Awards.”
Raymarine has been at the heart of the Boat Builder Awards as headline sponsor since inception. IBI and METSTRADE are pleased to announce the continuity of this strong partnership. Grégoire Outters, Raymarine’s General Manager, comments: “Raymarine is proud to celebrate 10 years as title sponsor of the Boat Builder Awards in 2024. This prestigious event serves as a beacon, shining light on the brightest talents and boldest ideas shaping the future of boating. With each passing year, we deepen our admiration for the dedication and ingenuity driving progress in maritime design and technology. Here’s to a decade of honouring excellence and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the water.”
Nominations now open
Awards will be presented in 11 categories with three industry priority themes – on innovation, environment, and people. Responding to the fast pace of new launch activity with sustainability as a core focus, the Eco Boat of the Year award is in two categories this year, split for under and over 10m length overall. Making a return to the line-up is the Retail Marketing Initiative which will celebrate exemplar projects that are driving industry sales. The remit of the People and Skills Development award has been broadened to include everything from one-off success with individuals, to major industry training schemes and projects.
The Boat Builder Awards is free to enter. You can nominate on your behalf or send in entries for companies or people who you think deserve recognition. Nominations are via a simple to use online form and open now until 27 September 2024. To ensure judges have maximum time to evaluate entries, businesses are encouraged to submit their nominations as soon as possible.
Full details of the 11 award categories and how to nominate are available at www.ibinews.com/bba2024.
The best dinner date in Amsterdam
Wednesday 20 November is the date to save for the 2024 Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement, jointly run by IBI and METSTRADE, in association with Raymarine. This fine celebration of achievement will be held in the historic and atmospheric environment of Amsterdam’s National Maritime Museum, surrounded by the maritime heritage of centuries while highlighting the best of the future.
Tickets are on sale now – visit www.ibinews.com/bba2024 to ensure your reservation for a night to remember.
The 2024 categories
- Breakthrough Launch of the Year – sponsored by HP Watermakers
- Innovative Design Solution – sponsored by Fusion
- Collaborative Solution between a Builder and its Supply Chain Collaboration
- Retail Marketing Initiative
- Sustainability Project of the Year – sponsored by ePropulsion
- Eco-focused Boat of the Year – under 10m loa
- Eco-focused Boat of the Year – over 10m loa
- Designer of the Year
- People and Skills Development
- Rising Star – sponsored by Lumishore
- Lifetime Achievement Award – sponsored by Sleipner
