Awards
The winners of the 4th Crew Welfare Virtual Awards are:
Crew Welfare Tanker Operator Award
Winner
Dorian LPG
For its efforts to support the employment of women on board its vessels, promoting equal opportunities in recruitment and career development. The company has collaborated with the AllAboard Alliance to enhance the onboard experience for female seafarers.
Ioanna Lali, Alternate Crew Manager / HR Development Officer, Dorian LPG:
“We believe that talent and dedication know no boundaries, and we’re committed to fair recruitment and creating an environment where everyone can grow and succeed. This award reminds us of our responsibility and reflects the hard work of our teams, both on board and ashore, who show respect, inclusivity, and integrity every day. Thank you to our crew for your professionalism and unity, which turn our vessels into communities.”
Crew Welfare Dry Bulk Operator Award
Winner
OLDENDORFF CARRIERS GmbH & Co. KG
For placing crew at the heart of its operations and embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into every stage of career development. Their ‘Global Cadet Program: Embracing Diversity’ is a structured initiative designed to train, retain, and promote cadets to long-term officer roles based solely on merit.
Armin Zilske, Director Crewing, OLDENDORFF CARRIERS GmbH & Co. KG:
“Our crews are at the heart of our operations and their dedication shapes our success. We actively build a culture that values support and appreciation, with equal opportunities regardless of their nationality, gender, race, or religion, ensuring they feel valued at every stage of their journey with us. So, thank you very much for this great recognition, and we really look forward to continuing our journey towards a more diverse and healthy maritime industry.”
Crew Welfare Crew Manager Award
Winner
OSM Thome
For its comprehensive ‘OSM Thome Cares Program’—a holistic initiative aimed at fostering happy, healthy, and financially secure seafarers. Built on the pillars of people, policy, process, and practice, the program addresses eight essential areas of well-being, creating positive ripple effects that extend to families and communities.
Mailyn Borillo, Managing Director, OSM Thome Philippines:
“Through healthcare, mental wellness, financial education, and continuous training, we support not just work readiness, but personal growth and well-being. We also extend that care beyond the vessel. Supporting families through community events, mentoring, and initiatives like the Seafarers Family Club in the Philippines. With our seafarers, we want to establish not just work relationships, but also life relationships.”
Crew Welfare Service Provider Award
Winner
OCEANIC
For its outstanding commitment to crew wellbeing, recognizing the unique challenges they face while working onboard. By empowering dedicated chefs and nutrition experts, the company drives impactful wellbeing campaigns, launches inspiring culinary challenges, and embraces a holistic approach to health, all with crew welfare at its core.
Kyriakos Hadjikyriakou, Managing Director, OCEANIC:
“Seafarers are the foundation of our industry, and their well-being is not just our responsibility, but a commitment well embedded in our culture. We understand the unique challenges of life at sea, and that’s why our approach to crew welfare goes beyond basic needs. Our efforts are centered on health, resilience, physical well-being, and most importantly, creating a sense of belonging, even when our crew members are miles away from home.”
Stavrie Kleanthous, RD Wellbeing Services Manager Clinical Dietitian/Nutritionist, OCEANIC:
“Supporting seafarers’ well-being is more than a professional responsibility for me. It’s a deeply human one. Every day, we witness the unique physical and mental challenges seafarers face. That’s why our well-being strategy focuses on real, practical support from tailored nutrition and fitness tools to meaningful human connection, even when miles at sea. Our role isn’t just to respond to needs. It’s to anticipate them.”
Crew Welfare Non-Profit Organisation Award
Winner
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)
For its efforts to address crew wellbeing and welfare priorities. This includes the development of a program called “ITF Wellbeing,” through which they collaborate with government authorities and maritime academies worldwide to introduce a stress management module into the maritime curriculum.
Dr. Syed Asif Altaf, Global Wellbeing Program Coordinator, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF):
“We, as a trade union organization, want to make sure every seafarer, including young seafarers, are healthy and happy on board and on shore. The number of seafarers – including young seafarers – struggling with mental health problems has increased significantly in current years. In fact, the suicide rate among young seafarers is alarmingly high. We, at the ITF and our well-being program is committed to support seafarers in their struggle.”
Crew Welfare Diversity & Inclusion Award
Winner
Magsaysay
For its support of female cadets through mentorship, leadership development programs, and initiatives that promote inclusivity, safe spaces, and confidence among female students. The company has also championed a bullying- and harassment-free workplace through its policy, Wag Ganiyan, Sexual Harassment ‘Yan (WGSHY).
Arnold Javier, President, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation:
“Among our 270 shore-based staff, 10% identify as LGBTQIA+, including several senior leaders whose careers are shaped by expertise and merit. On board, women represent 30% of our nearly 48,000 deployed seafarers, excelling in roles from staff to senior manager roles. The rising number of female cadets at MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy (MMMA) is a testament to our ongoing effort to cultivate new talent and foster inclusivity from ground up.”
Crew Welfare Personality Award
Winner
Atty. Iris Baguilat, President, Döhle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Inc.
For her significant contributions to crew welfare, advocating for the rights and well-being of seafarers. As a seasoned legal practitioner, lecturer, and consultant in maritime law, Atty. Baguilat has played a pivotal role in updating and improving shipping laws in the Philippines. Recently, she has been deeply involved in drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, ensuring the protection and welfare of Filipino seafarers.
Atty. Iris Baguilat, President, Döhle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Inc.:
“As a legal practitioner and consultant to various agencies, my journey has been guided by the belief that the rights and well-being of seafarers should always be prioritized. As I have often said, we should protect the goose that lays the golden eggs. The work we did on the Magna Carta of Filipino seafarers is a milestone, but it’s just one step in an ongoing pursuit of ensuring that every seafarer has the support, safety, and recognition they deserve.”
Crew Welfare Leadership Award
Winner
Mark O’Neil, President, Columbia Group
For his leadership in advocating for crew welfare and implementing comprehensive initiatives to support the mental, physical, and social well-being of seafarers. As President of the Columbia Group and former President of InterManager, he has led significant initiatives, including ColumbiaCrewCare, ColumbiaFit, and a mental health hotline, all aimed at enhancing seafarers’ well-being and resilience.
Mark O’Neil, President, Columbia Group:
“We put people at the front, in the middle, and at the end of everything we do. And we recognize that as far as the performance of our ships is concerned, the crew is where it begins and where it ends. And it’s for this reason that all of our focus – everything we do- is on properly motivated crew, properly fed and watered crew, properly trained crew, properly educated crew, properly compensated crew, crew that are healthy mentally and physically, and crew that have all the support they need for themselves and for their families.”
About Crew Welfare Awards
Crew Welfare Awards are part of the Crew Welfare Week within the scope of fostering Crew Wellbeing & Sustainable Shipping. The process to be employed is a combination of open nomination and vote from audience and the industry panel of experts.. The award categories are:
Crew Welfare Tanker Operator Award
To be awarded to a ship operator of oil or chemical tankers, or gas carriers that demonstrated Initiative, Best Practices and Excellence and in any aspect of crew welfare
Crew Welfare Dry Bulk Operator Award
To be awarded to a ship operator of bulk carriers, or general dry cargo vessels that demonstrated Initiative, Best Practices and Excellence in any aspect of crew welfare
Crew Welfare Crew Manager Award
To be awarded to a crew management company that demonstrated Initiative, Best Practices and Excellence and in any aspect of crew welfare
Crew Welfare Service Provider Award
To be awarded to a service provider that delivered service which contributes towards improving crew welfare
Crew Welfare Non-Profit Organisation Award
To be awarded to a non-profit organization or association that planned, promoted and delivered any program fostering crew welfare with tangible results
Crew Welfare Diversity & Inclusion Award
To be awarded to an organization that planned/delivered a program or promoted in any way the Diversity & Inclusion agenda
Crew Welfare Personality Award
To be awarded to a Personality that provided industry influence and contributed towards moving the crew welfare agenda forward with tangible results
Crew Welfare Leadership Award
To be awarded to an Industry Figure that has provided leadership by steering their organization and/or the industry towards crew welfare excellence
Notification procedure is initiated few months ahead of the event with an open invitation to the industry stakeholders to propose nominations online via relevant form at dedicated awards page. Shortlisted nominees are announced within a week after nomination submission is concluded and open vote to declare the winner of each category is available for a period of three months through relevant application at dedicated awards page. Winners are announced at the award ceremony, during the Crew Welfare Week.