Living up to the Lloyd's List name

LLOYD’S List has the pedigree, and the clout if we so choose, to influence the shipping industry.

But as a credible journal with a reputation to keep, we strive to make a path that adheres to impartiality and accuracy, to provide the trusted insight our subscribers want, expect and demand.

The Lloyd’s List Awards we hold around the world must also hold true to that journalistic ideal. It is not a matter of arrogance, but one of trust and knowing our place.

Yes, the awards portfolio raises revenue for us. Yes they are commercial, but so is a rock concert, a West End play and a Hollywood film where producers demand a profitable return.

So it is with the Awards, but there is a difference. The seats, the sponsorship and the potential for branding are commercial, but not the judging.

My role with the awards is to assemble the judging panel from inside the shipping industry to make these decisions for us.

We ask the industry to submit nominations, and we ask the industry to decide upon a winner.

There is a selection process before the judges see the entries. There has to be because, frankly, it is clear that with each of the categories we have entries sent that are not relevant, or not up to date.

The selection of the judges every year is sometimes as hard as the judging of the awards themselves. We seek diversity, we seek industry excellence and knowledge and we seek authoritative credibility and standing in the industry.

We ask our sponsors to also respect this and not ask to join the judging panel as a way of reducing any conflicts of interest, and to demonstrate how seriously we and they take the demand for impartiality and independence from the panel.

We have four regional awards in Greece, North America, Asia and the Middle East, and a Global Awards that is held in London annually.

Many of the nominations we receive are splendid insights into the industry high points, and we welcome them all, even though clearly only the very best will be crowned.

The Awards are hard to win, and they are prestigious. They have a value of their own and it is our responsibility to ensure the values we hold for ourselves holds true with the awards, so industry winners know they can say quite proudly they won, fair and square.

Our Global Awards are once again open for nominations, and I am inviting respected industry experts to join the panel. They will make their judgement in the early summer.