Sharjah-UAE: 16 October, 2017:  Gulftainer, the world’s largest privately owned independent terminal operating and logistics company, has won the prestigious Port and Terminal Operator Award at the Seatrade Maritime Awards Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa 2017 for the second consecutive year.

Tom Nauwelaerts, managing director of Momentum Logistics, Gulftainer's third-party logistics (3PL) division, received the award on behalf of the company at a ceremony in Dubai. Gulftainer stood out among strong competition from DP World UAE Region, Abu Dhabi Ports, Red Sea Gateway Terminal, Saudi Global Ports Company, and SOHAR Port and Freezone.

Speaking on the win, Flemming Dalgaard, CEO of Gulftainer, said: “Gulftainer is proud to be recognised for its operational excellence at the prestigious industry awards. Winning the Port and Terminal Operator Award for the second year in a row validates our commitment to high levels of productivity for our customers through operational excellence across our operations, and reinforces our dedication to upholding impeccable service and safety standards. This achievement would not have been possible without our highly qualified team of professionals, who work relentlessly to deliver industry-leading services to our clients.”

He added: “This award belongs not only to us but to all our partners across the region. I take this opportunity to thank the Saudi Ports Authority (SEAPA) and Gulf Stevedoring Contracting Company (GSCCO) for their ongoing support. Saudi Arabia is a key part of our regional portfolio and home to some of our state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Northern Container Terminal in Jeddah Islamic Port.”

Currently in its 14thyear, the Seatrade Maritime Awards serves as an important platform to honour outstanding contributions of companies to the maritime industry in the region. An expert panel of judges selected the winners from over 70 finalists across 20 categories.

Evaluation criteria included consistent demonstration of all-round operational excellence and maintaining the highest standards of cost and supply chain efficiency, automation and customer service. The judging panel also factored in exceptional innovation, continuous improvement, profitability, and significant investment in port and terminal operations.

Gulftainer’s domestic portfolio comprises Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) and Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) and Hamriyah Port. On an international level, the operator is engaged in maritime activities at Jeddah and Jubail in Saudi Arabia, Umm Qasr in Iraq, Tripoli in Lebanon, Recife in Brazil, as well as Canaveral in Florida, USA.