METSTRADE 2023 opens, presents annual DAME Awards

METSTRADE 2023 officially kicked off this week in Amsterdam. Featuring more than 1,500 exhibitors from 53 countries across 11 exhibit halls, METSTRADE serves as the largest marine trade expo in the world.

“It’s a special edition for us in so many ways,” said METSTRADE director Niels Klarenbeek. “We are celebrating our 35^th anniversary by launching two new pavilions to stimulate interest in foiling and start-up businesses, reflecting the industry’s need to innovate. We’re stimulating accessibility and inclusion by placing a new Career Zone right in the heart of our Young Professionals Club and holding our second Women in the Marine Industry International Event. Plus, as you have come to expect of METSTRADE, we have an array of features and events to share best practices and stimulate debate on the passion we share to create a sustainable marine sector. This includes a Next Generation Propulsion Zone for the first time.”

Around 240 of the more than 1,500 exhibitors are new to METSTRADE this year. Visitors will also be able to explore the collective endeavors of 29 national pavilions representing 19 countries including 2023 newcomer, Croatia. 

DAME Design Awards 2023

The coveted DAME Design 2023 Awards were presented following the annual METSTRADE Breakfast Briefing on Nov. 15.

This year saw a very high ratio of entries nominated across eight new categories – winning products represent the pinnacle of holistic design effort with one judged to be the overall DAME Award winner.

Jury Chair Andre Hoek presented the overall DAME Award 2023 to the Oceanvolt HighPower ServoProp during the awards presentation. Nine products took wins in eight brand new categories for this year, while 14 more received Special Mentions. The jury also named a recipient for its discretionary Environmental Design Award.

The jury commended this 25kW electric saildrive as “an excellently conceived and engineered product that tangibly moves the goalposts for 45-70-foot sailboats by providing a reliable and extremely quiet option for electrification. Oceanvolt’s use of its controllable pitch propeller technology ensures maximum efficiency for propulsion and hydrogeneration, with the system able to return up 5kW of power when the yacht is sailing at 10 knots.” The jury also noted the careful thought had been given to installation and ease of servicing when long-distance sailing.

Commenting on the result, Chair of the Jury, Andre Hoek stated: “The jury would like to thank everyone who entered this year’s DAME Awards. The efforts of companies who offer their products for such detailed scrutiny are always appreciated, and we are always mindful of the time, resources and passion required to bring each product to market. This year we shortlisted 53 out of 100 entries, the highest ratio of nominees since 2016. That is indicative of the quality we saw across a healthy mix of genuinely new concepts as well as fresh design ideas for existing gear that has been with us for many years.”

“There were noticeably more entries this year supporting the boat electrification agenda, but it must not be forgotten that the drive towards net zero must influence all new products in the industry today,” Hoek added. “Improving the lifecycle impacts of marine equipment is an imperative for any design process. The environmental statements we request for each entry give reason to believe the industry is moving in that direction while also highlighting there is much more to do.”

DAME AWARDS 2023 overall winner:
Oceanvolt HighPower ServoProp 25

Category winners:

• Personal equipment
  • Zhik Seaboot 700 (presented by Plastimo)
• Comfort and entertainment afloat
  • Scanstrut ATMOS 12V Waterproof Built In Air Station
• Navigation & communication
  • Raymarine Alpha Performance Display System
• Electronic and electric systems
  • Vimar Linea XT platform
• Propulsion& dynamics
  • Oceanvolt HighPower ServoProp 25       
• Deck equipment
  • Ronstan Orbit Winch
  • Harken Push/Pull Captive Reel Winch
• Security & safety aboard
  • Hall Spars – LiMit Collar
• Shoreside equipment & materials
  • Spot Zero Mobile Pro Mini Water Purifier

Environmental Design Award Winner:

• Marservis EcoCube

Special mentions:

• Personal equipment
  • Mustang Survival Atlas 190 Pro Sensor Life Jacket
  • WesCom Group sMRT ALERT DSC AIS MOB
• Comfort & entertainment Afloat
  • Blue-Airco DC variable speed self-contained unit
  • Solvit3D MAKRA FLADE – Marine
  • Hansa Noord MEMBRALOOP flexible water filter
• Navigation & communication
  • Garmin GPSMAP 9000 Series
• Electronic & electric systems
  • Gussi Italia MURANO
  • EPTechnologies Solid State Battery
• Propulsion & dynamics
  • TEMO – TEMO 1000
• Deck equipment
  • Rigging Projects X Car
  • Goiot Systems Magic deck hatches
  • Cyclops Marine smartbatten system
• Security and safety onboard
  • Swiss Ocean Tech AnchorGuardian
  • Digital Yacht CO Alert

Please visit damedesignawards.com to see the full Jury Report with information on the winning entries and insights on why they won.