On November 6 the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR) awarded the Maritime Achievement Award to the Dutch Merchant Shipping Database. With the award the KVNR gives recognition to the database that provides valuable insights into important role the role of the Dutch merchant navy during the Second World War.
During the war, crews of the Dutch merchant navy were obliged to sail and fight for years. This came at the cost of much suffering and victims. The deployment of the Dutch merchant navy determined the course of the Second World War. Too few Dutch people know about their heroic role.
That is why Stichting Koopvaardijpersoneel 1940-1945 made it their mission to highlight the indispensable role of the Dutch merchant navy in the Second World War. And to provide merchant mariners with the lasting recognition and appreciation they deserve.
Maritime Achievement Award
The Maritime Achievement Award aims to draw attention to socially relevant maritime achievements. These are people or initiatives that play a distinctive role in the position of the Dutch maritime sector and/or provide added value in the social debate about the Netherlands as a maritime relevant country.
According to the jury, the Merchant Navy Database not only brings the important role of seafarers in the merchant navy closer to relatives, but the initiators also make this history visible and tangible this year.
Maritime Awards Gala
The award ceremony was attended by Minster Harbers (Infrastructure and Watermanagement) and Minister Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate Policy). The event was part of the Maritime Awards Gala at Rotterdam Ahoy that was held at the opening night of Europort 2023.
Source: Maritime Awards Gala