The 2011 Club Marine Australian Marine Industry Export Awards, organized by the Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX) were announced last night at the AIMEX and Club Marine annual networking function in Sydney’s Darling Harbor. Aqualuma Marine Lighting won the prestigious ‘Exporter of the Year’ award and ‘Best Marine Industry Export Marketing Strategy’; other winners included Britton Marine (Aust) Pty Ltd, Glowfast Marine, Sealite, P&W Marine Engineering and SOS Marine. Individual winners included Alan Steber – Steber International, Richard Ward – Seawind Catamarans and the Young Achiever award was won by Jim Bolton – Steber International.

Exporter of the Year and Best Export Marketing Strategy Winners Aqualuma Marine Lighting. Directors Carl and Grant Amor.

Queensland based Aqualuma Marine Lighting won ‘Exporter of the Year’ and ‘Best Marine Industry Export Marketing Strategy’. Despite the global financial situation, Aqualuma have defied odds and maintained their strong and strategic global marketing plan as well as expanding their product range and successfully delivering this to the market in 2010. Aqualuma sponsor a number of key international boat shows as part of their marketing strategy including major sponsorship of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Aqualuma is renowned worldwide for its innovative ground breaking technology and designs and continue their commitment to bring the very latest innovations to the market. In 2010 Aqualuma introduced the world’s smartest intelligent LED interior lighting system ever seen in the marine sector.

The Australian Marine Industry is renowned for its innovation, and this was proved once again this year when the judges awarded 3 companies equally in the category ‘Most Innovative Marine Industry Exported Product’. Winners were P & W Marine Engineers Pty Ltd, Sealite and SOS Marine Aqualuma Marine Lighting and Stress Free Marine were also awarded Highly Commended in this category.

P&W Marine Engineers has invented a method to foundry, a foiled shaped rudder. The rudders are designed by Naval Architects to meet Marine Society Class and are hollow by design with water tight compartments.

A technology leader, Sealite is dedicated to servicing the solar industry through the efficient design and production of leading-edge products. The Apollo-155 is the most innovative product within the marine industry because unlike expensive, land-based sectored navigation lights it is the only single tier lantern able to be sectored accurately in multi-colours. The Apollo-155 is an inexpensive alternative to the large and bulky, high-powered and sometimes inaccurate sectored lights of the past.

SOS Marine manufacture custom-made lifejackets and personal safety & rescue equipment certified to the latest ISO 12402 requirements. SOS has established a reputation for designing innovative products including the SOS Dan Buoy; a lightweight man overboard device with quick response time and no activation required. It provides rescue operations additional capability and confidence.

There were two winners in the category ‘Marine Industry Export Champion’; Alan Steber, Managing Director – Steber International and Richard Ward, Managing Director – Seawind Catamarans, both having made significant impact and contribution to the Australian marine industry.

Alan Steber participates on a number of industry boards including AIMEX, he is dedicated to his customers and is an ambassador for Australian made product, utilizing Australian product wherever possible on Steber boats.

Richard Ward has made significant inroads in the global marine industry with Seawind Catamarans sailing waters globally; he was Also the driving force in lobbying for the successful changes made to the GST legislation effecting boats purchased in Australia.

Recognising the importance of the younger generations in the industry AIMEX implemented a new category in the 2011 Awards scheme this year, ‘Australian Marine Industry Young Achiever’. Jim Bolton who is now a qualified shipwright at Steber International won this award. Alan Steber, Managing Director – Steber International said “Jim can turn his hand to anything in the business”.

Luminous product manufacturers Glowfast Marine were awarded Winners of the ‘Australian Marine Industry Best Export Performance (small exporter)’ category as well as Highly Commended in the category ‘Best Marine Industry Export Marketing Strategy’. Glowfast Marine is the first company to bring high quality, purpose built luminous solutions to the marine industry. The market has seen rapid expansion over the last three years, with more customers realising the benefits, for performance, energy saving and safety.

Britton Marine (Aust) Pty Ltd won ‘Australian Marine Industry Best Export Performance (medium exporter)’. Britton Marine has successfully established itself as a major supplier of inflatable craft for the Australian and New Zealand Navies. Their export business includes the UAE, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and New Zealand.

Victorian based navigation aid manufacturers, Sealite, won ‘Australian Marine Industry Best Export Performance (large exporter)’. Sealite is a global exporter. Its products are in service in more than 110 countries with 100+ Authorised Distributors worldwide. End users include major military establishments, Coast Guard, Ports and Harbours and inland waterway authorities, oil, gas and mining industries and government departments.

AIMEX Chairman Alistair Murray commented that it is heartening to see so many Australian Marine Industry Exporters making inroads globally despite the current lack of government support for manufacturing in this economic climate with the high Australian dollar, the high cost of manufacturing in this country and reduced global demand having a real effect on everyone’s business. Australia has always been known for the innovation and quality of our products and having 3 equal winners in the innovation category proves that innovation is one of the cornerstones to Australia’s success here and overseas.

Sponsors of the 2011 Awards scheme include Major Sponsors; Club Marine, Nuplex Composites, Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Department of Industry, Innovation, Science and Research, Media Partner; Boating Business and Supporting Sponsors; Sandman PR, Marine Business and MUSTO.

2011 Club Marine Australian Marine Industry Export Awards

2011 Marine Industry Exporter of the Year & Best Marine Industry Export Marketing Strategy

Winner – Aqualuma Marine Lighting

Most Innovative Marine Industry Exported Product

Winner – P & W Marine Engineers Pty Ltd

Winner – Sealite

Winner – SOS Marine

Highly Commended – Aqualuma Marine Lighting

Highly Commended – Stress Free Marine

Australian Marine Industry Export Champion

Winner – Richard Ward, Seawind Catamarans

Winner – Alan Steber , Steber International

Marine Industry Young Achiever

Winner – Jim Bolton, Steber International

Best Marine Industry Export Performance (Small Exporter)

Winner – Glowfast Marine

Highly Commended – MultiPanel Pty Ltd

Highly Commended – Stress Free Marine

Best Marine Industry Export Performance (Medium Exporter)

Winner – Britton Marine (Aust) Pty Ltd

Highly Commended – Aqualuma Marine Lighting

Highly Commended – P & W Marine Engineers Pty Ltd

Best Marine Industry Export Performance (Large Exporter)

Winner – Sealite

Highly Commended – Azzura Marine

Highly Commended – Steber International

Best Marine Industry Export Marketing Strategy

Highly Commended – Glowfast Marine