Marcel Onkenhout, CEO of Oceanco, was honoured with the ‘International Superyacht Society’s Excellence in Innovation Award’ at their annual Gala that took place on the 25th of October, 2012, during the Fort International Lauderdale Boat Show. The award, open to every aspect of the marine industry, recognizes an individual or business that has demonstrated innovation in their endeavours within the previous year.

82m Oceanco luxury charter yacht ALFA NERO awarded ISS award in 2008

Onkenhout has been highly original in his team development and business management and has taken the company forward with innovative thinking. The ISS acknowledged that, while other successful top yards have had generations of success to lean on, Oceanco, through Marcel’s steady leadership and creative thinking, is standing head to head with the industry’s longest-established and most respected yards. Oceanco’s maxim “Yachts for Visionary Owners” clearly extends itself now to visionary management.

In his acceptance speech at the podium in front of the entire yachting industry, which included wide-ranging superyacht builders, designers, owners, captains and many others, Onkenhout chose to accept the award on behalf of the Oceanco team. He also explained that for Oceanco, innovation was finding better ways to do things—being more creative in design, finding new ways to build yachts, and providing better after sales service.

Onkenhout went on to say that he thought the most important innovation at Oceanco has been the creation of a positive working relationship with Oceanco’s clients, co-makers as well as with its employees and the industry. This is not the first time Oceanco has been recognized by the ISS. In 2008, Oceanco’s 82m charter yacht Alfa Nero received the award for best power yacht 65m+ and then in 2010, their 85.5m superyacht Sunrays received an award in the same category.