| Anatolijus 2001 Prizes –
to the Best in Marine Business
Gabriele Vasiliauskaite
In the end of January Klaipeda Drama
theatre hosted the festive award ceremony of Anatolijus 2001 prizes granted to the
companies and persons who had made the biggest input into development of Lithuanian marine
business.
The stormy evening of the ceremony day was very much alike to the one in December 1999
when the Anatolius hurricane that gave the name to the only marine award in
Lithuania was raging at the seaside.
Nineteen stevedoring, shipping companies, marine agencies, transport firms and consortia
were nominated for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd
degree Anatolijus 2001 and the Grand Anatolijus. Nominees to the Personal
Anatolijus were persons who had distinguished themselves in marine business. For the
first time this year a prize was also established for media representatives – for the
most professional publication, radio or TV broadcast on marine business.
The guests gathered in The Drama Theatre decorated with marine flags and smart navy, were
invited to the small hall of the theatre where the ceremony of awards was to take place.
There, accompanied by the sounds of Saulius Siauciulis music created specially for this
occasion and reminding the rage of a storm or hurricane, started the grand ceremony of
honoring the brightest stars of marine business. Participants of the ceremony were
welcomed by founders of the prize: chief editor of the international marine business
magazine Sea Zita Tallat-Kelpsaite and director general of Klaipeda State
Seaport Authority Kestutis Bartkevicius.
Director for strategy of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority Vladas Sturys who was
chairman of the jury consisting of representatives of prize founders, stevedoring
companies, ship owners, shipbrokers and agents, announced the laureates of Anatolijus
2001.
The Grand Anatolijus prize was granted to stevedoring company Bega
for the biggest investments into development of the port. This company is headed by
Aloyzas Kuzmarskis who is also the leader of the Association of Lithuanian Stevedoring
Companies that was awarded the Grand Anatolijus prize last year.
1st Degree Anatolijus - for
professionalism – was granted to the company Limarko engaged in shipping and ship
agents work under the leadership of seafarer Vytautas Lygnugaris.
2nd Degree Anatolijus – for
implementation of new ideas and modern technologies – was granted to Klaipeda
Stevedoring Company (KLASCO) now managed by director general Eduardas Plauska
who was working as vice-president of the company earlier, under the management of
Bronislovas Lubys.
3rd Degree Anatolijus – for
firm steps towards leadership - was given to the consortium Klaipedos Terminalas,
for several years successfully managed by Sigitas Dobilinskas.
Member of the Seimas of Lithuania Vaclovas Stankevicius was recognized as the most
prominent personality in marine business in 2001 and granted Personal Anatolijus
for his outstanding contribution to the enhancement of marine law. Former deep sea captain
V.Stankevicius was happy that his work in the Seimas was so highly appreciated. He said he
felt obliged to work even better in order Lithuania became a real and worldly recognized
marine state.
The 4th nomination founded for
journalists, the representatives of the ‘fourth power’, for the most professional
publication on marine business was granted to Edgaras Valeckas, reporter of the daily Verslo
Zinios.
Six companies had been announced in the magazine Sea as nominees for the
Consolation prize and that caused some problems. The nominees were in doubts whether it
was worth taking part in the ceremony. Representatives of some nominated companies did not
even attend at the party. But those having a sense of humor and self-criticism were not
scared away by the possibility of becoming the laureate of the Consolation prize. Director
general of Transfosa Rimvydas Marcinkus said that such nomination challenged to
seek one of the main prizes in the future.
The Consolation Anatolijus 2001 was granted to Klaipedos Laivu Remontas for
permanent generation of problems. Even though leader of the company Naglis Puteikis did
not show up to receive the award, the organizers did not have to take it home. Vidmantas
Pleckaitis, vice-mayor of Klaipeda, who is also chairman of the Board of Supervisors,
helped the situation out. He promised to hand the prize in to the owner personally.
The prizes handed to the laureates depicted metal bollards with ropes. They were created
by Klaipeda sculptor Vytautas Balsys.
Zita Tallat-Kelpsaite, chief editor of the international marine business magazine Sea and
author of the award idea says that the symbolic name of the Anatolius hurricane has
been chosen in order to show that powerful forces act in marine business also and that it
is the business of strong and outstanding personalities who must and should lead Lithuania
to prosperity. “It is the marine and transit business that makes the foundation of our
economy”, said she during the ceremony.
The choice of name for the award was not accidental. In December 1999 one
of the most powerful hurricanes swept over Lithuania. In gusts the wind exceeded 36 m/s.
The hurricane was given the name of Anatolius. The nature, the element demonstrated
its might. But the power of the man, his mind and creativity also counteracted the nature
forces.
The first awards founded last year by the magazine Sea and Klaipeda State
Seaport Authority were highly evaluated by the marine community. The Association of
Lithuanian Stevedoring Companies, The Lithuanian Ship Owners Association, the Lithuanian
Shipbrokers and Agents Association, hotel Radisson SAS, have sponsored the
awards this year. The ceremony was honored by member of the Seimas Valentinas Greiciunas
and vice-minister of Transport Arijus Ramonas.
The nominees had been recommended by representatives of the Seamen’s Union, associations
and founders.
The Floor
to Laureates of Anatolijus 2001
Passions around the second rage of Anatolijus
2001 in Klaipeda on January 25 have already calmed down and we address laureates of
the marine award with some questions:
How do you value the significance of the award Anatolijus 2001
to Klaipeda and the whole marine industry of Lithuania?
What does the award mean to you and your company?
Aloyzas KUZMARSKIS, director general of stevedoring company Bega:
Of course, it is a very good tradition.
It is a real adornment of our port city which will celebrate the 750th anniversary this
summer. At the same time it is a symbol of recognition of one or another person or company
and their merits to development of marine business. Since our activity is very important
for the economy of the country, and Anatolijus should step out of the city borders
and become a national award. We should expand the circle of nominees involving in the
competition all participants of marine transit.
As leader of the company, I was very pleased to get the main prize Grand
Anatolijus. All the staff of Bega is also very happy about it. We are grateful
for such high estimation of our work. I think the prize has crowned ten years of our
activities, not only the last year. But we are not going to rest on the laurels. The most
important thing is to go forward. We will continue in the same line, increasing our
capacities and implementing new technologies. The success of each port company adds to the
success and prestige of the whole Klaipeda Port.
Vytautas LYGNUGARIS, director
general of UAB Limarko:
Of course, I am positive about the
tradition to garnt awards. I am convinced that my colleagues working in marine business
will support my ideas. We all work not for the fame, but appreciation and recognition are
always pleasant. This new tradition adds some charm to Klaipeda - it is unique just like
our port city is unique in the country. It is necessary to think about the future. Maybe
the competition should become biennial, so that the prizes would not go round, or maybe
the organizers should attract more nominees from companies involved in transit business.
But not road carriers or railway people – they cannot compete for a marine award. Only
companies involved in marine business should participate.
The staff of Limarko met the news about the award with joy and
satisfaction. High esteem of professionals is of great value to us.
Eduardas PLAUSKA, director general
of KLASCO:
Hurricane Anatoliusthat raged
over Lithuania‘s seaside two years ago, caused a lot of trouble and material losses. Our
stevedoring company also suffered from it. But life goes on, and the idea to turn Anatolijus
awards into a nice tradition adds to the honor of prize founders and of the whole port
city.
We are sincerely grateful to the jury for recognizing the merits of our
company and awarding us with 2nd Degree Anatolijus. I must admit that we do
not value our own achievements so high - I am speaking about cargo turnover. But in the
sphere of new ideas and technologies we have certainly made some steps. This year we will
have to complete the works and start operation of the new terminal for liquid fertilizers.
We also intend to raise cargo turnover from 6.5 to 7 million tonnes. I don’t think we
are aiming too high - it is a realistic and optimal target.
Vaclovas STANKEVICIUS, member of the
Seimas:
Establishment of Anatolijus
awards is of great importance to me as a professional seafarer, and to Klaipeda as a port
city. Besides, I think that this event is of national significance as it helps to
consolidate the positions of Lithuania as a marine state. Like the hurricane made people
unite for resisting the forces of nature, this new tradition helps to consolidate marine
people and organizations. The wonderful ceremony of awards is evident proof of it.
I was deeply moved to receive the personal award. I must admit it was
my first award during the whole life, not mentioning some letters of honor or
schock-worker badges. Besides it is a marine award, and that is especially pleasing for me
as a sea captain. Judging by the congratulations, seafarers agree with the decision of the
jury. On the other hand, the Anatolijus award to me as member of the Seimas means
that I am on the right way raising marine problems in the parliament of Lithuania.
Edgaras VALECKAS, correspondent of
national daily Verslo Zinios
Awards to marine business companies are
a good and welcomed tradition. But perhaps the geography of nominations should be
expanded. It should embrace not only companies located in Klaipeda, but the whole
Lithuanian transport system which determines the general Lithuanian transit policy. The
ceremony of awards could become an event of national importance.
Maybe the valuation criteria should be defined and the names of
nominations announced in the beginning of the year, so that companies knew how their
achievements are going to be estimated.
As to myself, the award came as a real surprise to me. I think that
such high appreciation of my work was determined by the concept of our paper and its
orientation towards businessmen. The aim of our daily is to provide objective information,
statistical data without any comments from the journalist. I think it is the most
acceptable way of presenting the information for busy people who want to know the essence
of the matter.
I don’t think that other colleagues are writing worse, but the
publications they work for are oriented to another category of readers, trying to feed
them with sensations, piquant but often insignificant details.
The new prize and diploma in my room will keep reminding me that my
readers are very demanding. The award obliges to improve professionalism.
Naglis PUTEIKIS, director general of
AB Klaipedos Laivu Remontas:
I support the idea of marine awards Anatolijus.
The opinion of colleagues in marine business is very important. But in that case the jury
should consist of professionals working in the business and not of representatives of port
authority under the leadership of V.Sturys. It is a state-owned enterprise which evaluates
the work of port users every day. It would be interesting to know the real and objective
opinion of colleagues.
Regretfully, I did not attend at the ceremony considering that we did
not deserve any rewards. Anyway, our company did not expect to be rewarded with the Consolation
Anatolijus for permanent generation of problems. Judging by the delays in the
construction of cruise terminal, I strongly believe that port authority creates much more
problems. And still they have awarded us with the consolation prize in connection to these
problems. |
