Maritime Professional of the Year - 2016
January I was in Fort Lauderdale at the Electric & Hybrid Expo. Then in London presenting on hybrid opportunities to the Superyacht Forum.
I was back in the US in February for the Miami International Boat Show. This included running around Biscayne Bay testing new technology on a 12 metre (40 foot) RIB with four 300 hp outboards. 1200hp is useful for military and law enforcement operators - especially when they do not have to personally pay the fuel bill !!
March and April I chaired two conferences in London for the Royal Institution of Naval architects on "Wind farm Support Vessels" and "Innovations In Small Craft Design".
We then ran our own three day conference in Southampton on "Next Generation Marine Power & Propulsion".
I had an interesting June presenting to the US Coast Guard in Washington DC and to the US Navy in Baltimore on next generation marine energy. The following week I presented on hybrid opportunities for workboats and the military at the Seawork International commercial boat show in Southampton, then at the Electric & Hybrid Expo in The Netherlands.
To cap off the month I was chairman for the "Autonomous Ship Symposium" in Amsterdam, looking at the future for unmanned shipping on the world’s oceans.
In amongst all this I was proud to win the major industry award...
Maritime Professional of the Year
The Seawork Maritime Professional of the Year award celebrates exemplary individuals within the maritime sector. The Maritime Professional of the Year 2016 winner is John Haynes, managing director of UK company Shock Mitigation.
He was nominated by James Ellison, who said, “John Haynes is a thought leader in the high speed craft, shock mitigation and hybrid marine power sectors with a unique ability to engage and create momentum globally. John has a passion for these sectors, rooted in his own maritime background. He has a genuine vision of improving people’s lives on boats. His work with over 100 organizations is testament to this.”
Ellison added, “John provides professional end-user organizations, boat builders and equipment manufacturers with relevant subject matter expertise plus an independent overview of how the sub IMO fast boat sector is rapidly changing worldwide. His subject matter expertise includes 30 years training, consultancy and strategic product development. He is also the founder of the RIB and High Speed Craft Directory that brings together boats, equipment and technology for the professional sector.”
He has chaired technical conferences ranging from “The Future of Wind Farm Support Vessels” to “Fast Interception and Riverine Operations”. He has written numerous papers on future requirements and new technology. He is known for organizing workshops with high level panel discussions to help solve industry issues. In 2015 he set up a working group to assist the MCA create a Marine Guidance Note for lithium-ion and energy storage on vessels. His hybrid concept “The Hour of Power”, combining diesel - battery - electric, has the potential to reduce fuel consumption and emissions for vessels worldwide.
Commenting as the votes came in Jonathan Young of Scot Seats said, “John is a well deserving winner of the award, over the past few years he has put so much of his time into specialist areas of the marine industry whether it be in training people on the risks of repeated shocks at sea to pushing the development of hybrid power. It is most definitely not just work for John, it his is passion.”
Russell Marmon, Endurance & Offshore PWC Racing champion added, “John is a more than worthy winner being a pioneer of new innovations and committed to see his goals through to the end for the benefit of many.”
Julian Morgan of KPM Marine had the final word, “Reagan was the great communicator, Clinton was the great explainer, John is both of these with vision. This is a well deserved award.”
SOURCE: Lead news item in MarineLink USA - June 2016
RIB & High Speed Craft information www.shockmitigationdirectory.com
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