Last night the Bilbao Exhibition Centre hosted the second edition of the WMW Awards, which recognise excellence in the international maritime industry. Xabier Basañez, general manager of the Bilbao Exhibition Centre, opened the evening, which took place in a warm and relaxed atmosphere and was attended by renowned professionals from the sector, senior executives from leading companies and representatives from the entire value chain. Those present celebrated the triumphs of companies with active projects in the four sectors of the event: naval (Sinaval), fishing (EuroFishing), ports (Futureport) and marine renewable energies (Marine Energy Week).

The first of the awards, the Sinaval Award, went to INGETEAM. The prize was collected by its sales director, Mario de Vicente Casillas, from Sarai Blanc, director general of the Basque Maritime Forum. The naval company was highlighted for its capacity to ‘revolutionise electric propulsion, reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency’, as well as ‘its commitment to R&D, with more than 500 specialists and an annual investment of 5% of its turnover, which demonstrates its commitment to a more innovative and sustainable sector’.

The EuroFishing Award recognised SATLINK’s ReCon project for ‘having marked a before and after in the responsible management of marine technological waste’. Received by Kathryn Gavira, SATLINK’s Director of Science and Sustainability, from Nekane Alzorriz, Anabac’s scientific advisor, the award applauds the system of recovery and reuse of smart fishing buoys equipped with advanced echo sounders, with the main objective of preventing marine technological waste.

The third award of the evening, the Futureport Award, was received by Alejandro Aznar, president of the IBAIZABAL GROUP and ANAVAS, and was presented by Ricardo Barkala, president of the Port Authority of Bilbao. The award winner was praised for the leadership capacity he has shown throughout his prolific professional career, in which he has promoted key advances such as sustainability and job creation. ‘A visionary who has transformed the maritime industry’, in the words of the organisation.

And the Marine Energy Week Award was awarded to SAITEC OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGIES, for its DemoSATH Lab project. The prize was received by Javier del Real Tuñón, head of environment and stakeholders, on behalf of Javier Marqués, technical director of the Basque Energy Agency. As highlighted at the ceremony, ‘DemoSATH Lab has integrated nature-based solutions, such as artificial reefs that promote marine biodiversity, generating new refuge and feeding areas for fish and other marine species. This has ensured that the energy transition and conservation go hand in hand, with the aim of testing biodiversity integration strategies in floating wind farms’.

 

Special mentions to Inmaculada Ugarteche and Gondán Shipbuilders

After the presentation of the four sectorial awards, the organisation wanted to give special thanks for the professional career and work carried out by a woman of great importance in the maritime industry and by a benchmark company in the naval sector.

The Asturian company Astilleros Gondán is celebrating its first 100 years of history, in which it has built more than 400 ships since it was founded by Francisco Díaz Martínez in 1925. As was highlighted during the evening, World Maritime Week wanted to recognise ‘its capacity for innovation, with technology, equipment and systems used for the first time in the world’. So much so that last month, in Figueras, they launched their first unmanned vessel. The recognition was received by its vice-president, Álvaro Platero Alonso, from Ricardo Azcue, general manager of Bombas Azcue.

After this mention, Xabier Basañez wanted to close the evening with a heartfelt thank you to a professional who has left an indelible mark on the industry. Inmaculada Ugarteche, until this year general manager of Uniport Bilbao, has been involved with the entity since it was set up in 1994. In the words of the general manager of BEC, ‘Inmaculada has shown herself to be a tireless and persevering worker. Her career is an example of what it means to work with passion and dedication, always putting the interests of the collective above her own’. In his speech, Basañez underlined the importance of Ugarteche having created ‘her own space as a woman in a very masculinised sector, a merit achieved thanks to her character and ability’. She also highlighted Ugarteche’s kindness, proactivity, curiosity and honesty.

 

World Maritime Week will hold the third edition of the WMW Awards in 2027, during the sixth edition of WMW.