The entries were judged in six categories (see note to editors) and winners were announced to a 400-strong audience of exhibitors and guests at the Seawork Innovation Awards Dinner at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel on 22 May.

The climax of the evening was the Rt Hon Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, Stubbington, Lee-on-the-Solent and Hill Head presenting the Seawork Spirit of Innovation Trophy 2012 and the inaugural Seawork Lifetime Achievement Award.

Poole-based Index Marine received the Spirit of Innovation Trophy for the Odeo Flare - an innovative hand-held laser flare set to become an essential addition to safety equipment for the marine and other hazardous activites. The battery powered laser flare offers enhanced safety with no heat, flames or explosive compounds and therefore a much safer alternative to the conventional hand held pyrotechnic distress flare.

Steve Groves, a director of Odeo Flare Ltd said: "We knew we had a strong, innovative product with the laser Odeo Flare, but to win against such strong opposition was a fantastic recognition of the uniqueness of our product and a wonderful accolade from the industry".

On making the presentation, Ms Dinenage paid tribute to Seawork and the contribution the thriving commercial marine industry makes to creating local job opportunities.

Seawork Lifetime Achievement Award
Mr Kommer Damen, Chairman of Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Group, was awarded the first Lifetime Achievement Award at the Seawork Innovation Awards Dinner. Accepting the Award on Mr Damen’s behalf, his son, Arnout, said: “Kommer sends his apologies but he is currently in Azerbaijan selling workboats. He has asked me to take this opportunity to thank the Seawork organisation for this honour and to thank all our clients who make Damen the success story it is today.”

In 1969, Kommer Damen took the helm of the family business (established in 1927) and its six workers and soon introduced several key concepts that have lasted to this day. Among them are keeping vessels in stock and the standardisation of ship types and their supply chains. In addition, he introduced the modular shipbuilding concept for small workboats, which was later applied to bigger vessels, such as frigates and corvettes. This standardisation – the Damen Standard – results in short delivery times, reduced costs and proven technology.

Today, Damen Shipyards Group is a successful global enterprise with more than 6,000 employees in 35 countries. The family-owned company operates over 40 shipyards, repair yards, joint ventures and related companies worldwide. Damen has designed and built over 5,000 vessels for a wide range of markets and builds 40% of the world’s new tugs.

The prestigious award, inaugurated in Seawork’s 15^th year, will be given annually to an outstanding member of the commercial marine industry.