Daily News
THURSDAY 20 NOVEMBER
Brilliant industry and personal achievements celebrated at Boat Builder Awards This year’s 11th edition of the Boat Builder Awards saw Targa Boats’ founders Johan and Britt-Marie Carpelan honoured for Lifetime Achievement, and Brunswick’s Vittorio Bichurcher and Kevin Fehrenbach named as this year’s Rising Stars. Plus 31 companies from around the globe highlighted for their successes in innovation, design, sustainability and partnership collaboration.
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he Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement is jointly organised by IBI and Metstrade and held in association with long-standing partner, Raymarine. This year 68 nominations were accepted for final consideration across six categories that reflect key industry priorities – innovation, customer growth, sustainability and people. Keeping in step with the evolutionary nature of the boat building and superyacht construction industry, the event was relocated this year right into the heart of Metstrade, just a short step from this globally critical show’s nearly 1,700 exhibitors. Held in the purpose-built restaurant and event space Harbour 8, the evening featured a dinner expertly delivered by Green Michelin star chef and Dutch cuisine pioneer Luc Kusters, alongside the host venue’s own highly rated Basement Chefs. The emphasis for this edition
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Targa Boats’ Johan and Britt-Marie Carpelan were honoured with Lifetime Achievement recognition was on more networking time for the 250 industry leaders attending, with a relaxed atmosphere to reflect on achievements of the past and potential for the future. IBI editor in chief and chair of the Boat Builder Awards judges, Ed Slack, commented: “It’s clear from this year’s entries that there is an industrywide acceleration towards greater levels of product development. Start-up manufacturers are entering the arena, while major players are innovating current and new ranges to address emerging market trends. In parallel, we’re seeing evidence of much more complex approaches to sustainability now involving new technologies and partners. This is enabling companies to move beyond easier initial improvements in environmental impact.
“This year’s Lifetime Achievement and Rising Star recipients provided reason to give thanks for the incredibly gifted and dedicated founders who created much of our modern industry today, while recognising the skills and potential of valued up-andcoming people rising through to become leaders and innovators. The Boat Builder Awards plays an important role in highlighting these often otherwise unheralded vital measures of success. Metstrade exhibition manager, Patricia Becker, continues: “The Boat Builder Awards is a very important part of our week here in Amsterdam. The health of the whole marine industry depends on a successful yacht construction and refit sector. The teams from all the different boat builders come to Metstrade each year to discover and buy new products that will make their next launches great. To have a focused event celebrating their work throughout the year is an honour for our organisation as well as of course IBI. Our congratulations go to the Scan the QR code winners and finalists of this to see all winners! year’s special edition of the Boat Builder Awards.” The full list of Boat Builder Award winners and finalists, together with judges’ comments, can be seen on the following page
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