The 2015 Club Marine Australian Marine Export and Superyacht Industry Awards organized by the Australian International Marine Export Group and Superyacht Australia were announced last night at the Industry Gala Dinner in Sanctuary Cove, Queensland. 200 guests gathered to acknowledge and support the outstanding achievements of businesses in the Australian Marine Export and Superyacht Industries. The night was fantastic with great entertainment, delicious food, and beverages sponsored by Australia’s very own Negociants Wines.
The awards were opened by major sponsor Club Marine’s CEO, Simon McLean. Club Marine have been proud sponsors of the Australian marine export and superyacht awards for the past 5 years. The Club Marine awards exist to recognize and ensure the individuals and businesses who contribute to the Australian Marine Export and Superyacht sectors get the exposure and profile they deserve both on a national level and the global stage.
Key presenters for the 2015 awards ceremony included Ken Evans – Ken Evans Consulting and Chair of the 2015 awards judging panel, Sam Sorgiovanni – Sorgiovanni Designs, Dr Thomas Weschelbeger – Project Manager, Defence Industries Queensland, Industry Development Department of State, Development & Infrastructure, Johan Hasser – General Manager and Head of Marketing and Events, Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Richard Chapman – Managing Director Coursemaster Autopilots and HyDrive Engineering, and President of AIMEX, Martin Redmayne – Chairman of The Superyacht Group. MC for the night was Alistair Murray, Managing Director of Ronstan International and Australian International Marine Export Group Board Member.
Riviera won the prestigious ‘Exporter of the Year’ award and also took out the award for ‘Best Industry Export Performance – Large Exporter’.
Based in the Gold Coast Marine Precinct, Riviera has been the outstanding award recipient of the evening recognized for the success of their innovative products and dedicated contribution to the Australian marine industry. Riviera is a proud Australian builder of luxury motor yachts recognized globally as being amongst the best in the world, driven by excellence in design, innovation and passion for quality. Today at the Riviera facility, a team of over 430 international designers, engineers, boat-builders, master craftsmen, administration, finance, sales, dealer support and marketing specialists strive to continually refine Riviera’s designs through product development processes to maintain Riviera’s position at the forefront of global boating and consumer awareness.
A customer focused organization, Riviera maintains a strong commitment to their owners, including a global-scale owner events and education calendar resulting in a loyal global family of owners, many whom act as Ambassadors for the brand.
For more information www.riviera.com.au
Other winners on the night included Arctic Steel, Aqualuma LED Lighting, Barz Optics, Echo Yachts, Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, Superior Jetties, and Superyacht Crew International.
Carrie Carter of Carter Marine Agencies was awarded Superyacht Industry Champion, recognizing her hard work for the Australian superyacht sector. Since 1988 Carrie has been involved with the arrivals and departures of many ships in Australian waters. Carrie then in 2003, decided to do it all better and founded Carter Marine Agencies to focus on superyachts, which clearly she has succeeded. Carrie has diluted many convoluted processes for visiting superyachts and created an image of the friendliest and most accommodating superyacht concierge in Australia.
Barz Optics was awarded the ‘Most Innovative Marine Exported Product” Award for the Barz Optics Cabo Floating Sunglasses. The Cabo Floating Sunglasses are an innovative and practical product, a world-first and relevant to all facets of the marine industry.
For more information www.barzoptics.com
Arctic Steel won the ‘Best Export Performance – Small Exporter’ award. The Queensland based business designs and manufacturers a range of cast stainless steel marine engine water strainers. A relatively new company formed in September 2013, Arctic Steel pride themselves on being the only manufacturer in the world offering a cast stainless steel strainer of unprecedented quality and performance. Some ideal unique features and benefits of Arctic Steel product versus competitors gives them major advantages in the Marine raw strainer market. From virtually zero exports in 2011 they are now exporting to 16 countries across North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific.
For more information www.acticsteel.com
The ‘Best Marine Industry Export Performance – Medium Export’ category went to Aqualuma LED Lighting. From the humble beginnings of this company in 2004 to this day, the Aqualuma Team continually strives to find better ways to illuminate our marine world. This is not only evident in this truly wonderful product but also within their attempt to become the biggest Australian supplier of quality LED lighting in the world.
For more information www.aqualuma.com
This year ‘Superior’ took away the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show Award for ‘Best Export Marketing Strategy’. Based on the Gold Coast, Superior is a multi-disciplined group that included Superior Jetties, Superior Plastech and Superior Transport. Superior Jetties is known throughout our industry as an innovative design group, providing high quality marine floatation products through local and international dealers.
For more information www.superiorjetties.com
Echo Yachts based in WA, took out the prestigious ‘Superyacht Industry Business of the Year – Manufacturer’ Award. The team at Echo Yachts, headed by Mark Stothard, has undertaken a massive task in very uncertain economic times but has succeeded to return to Western Australia to its former position as Australia’s biggest superyacht manufacturer. Echo Yachts now has 250 staff and that number is growing, with 150 sub-contractors as they wrestle with over 150 meters of vessels in build as ordered.
For more information www.echoyachts.com.au
This year the “Superyacht Industry Business of the Year – Service Provider” was awarded to two deserving companies, Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard and Superyacht Crew International. The 2015 entrants for this category set a high standard and the judges were torn with choosing only one winner.
Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard was developed in the year 2000 and is a vital part of the Gold Coast Marine Precinct. It offers facilities for berthing, building, maintaining and refitting boats of all sizes, from Jet Skis to Superyachts up to 250 tons. It is the largest Marina and Shipyard of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
For more information www.gccm.com.au
Founder and operator of Superyacht Crew International Donna Morris has played a central role in establishing Superyacht Crew International as a quality organization with focused attention to providing the best possible crew for any superyacht requiring assistance. Superyacht Crew International has each and every year lifted the dynamic profile of Australia and Australian Maritime professionals throughout the world.
For more information www.superyachtcrew.com.au
Other winners on the night included Airberth and Foundation Interiors who were recognized for demonstrating outstanding business improvement and displaying attributes in line with the Australian International Marine Export Group’s and Superyacht Australia’s missions and values.
Sponsors of the 2015 Awards scheme include Major Sponsor; Club Marine and supporting sponsors; Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show and Negociants Wines.
For further information about the Awards contact AIMEX at admin@aimex.asn.au
2015 Club Marine Australian Marine Export & Superyacht Industry Awards
2015 Australian Marine Industry Exporter of the Year
Winner – Riviera
2015 Most Innovative Marine Industry Exported Product
Winner – Barz Optics
2015 Best Marine Industry Export Performance (Small Exporter)
Winner – Arctic Steel
2015 Best Marine Industry Export Performance (Medium Exporter)
Winner – Aqualuma LED Lighting
2015 Best Marine Industry Export Performance (Large Exporter)
Winner – Riviera
2015 The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show Best Marine Industry Export Marketing Strategy
Winner – Superior
2015 Superyacht Industry Business of the Year (Manufacturer)
Winner – Echo Yachts
2015 Superyacht Industry Business of the Year (Service Provider)
Winners – Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard & Superyacht Crew International
2015 Australian Superyacht Industry Champion
Winner – Carrie Carter
