Awards : METS Amsterdam, DAME Awards 2013

Mr Ronny Skauen receiving
the Dame Award 2013

The Dame Award is the world’s number one international design competition for new marine equipment and accessories, and has enormous industry prestige and a worldwide commercial impact.

To win the DAME is the ultimate accolade for companies and innovators, and all the nominations for the award are seen as trendsetters for the next generation of product development.

From a total of 115 products entered into this year’s prestigious DAME Design Award METS competition, 52 products from 12 countries have been nominated to go forward for final judging by the DAME Jury who chose a maximum of seven Category Winners and one Overall Winner.

The Overall Winner and Category Winners were announced at a special Breakfast Briefing on Tuesday November 19, prior to the start of the METS show. During METS, all of the short-listed products will be put on display in a special DAME presentation.

The overall winner of the DAME award 2013 is Sleipner Motor for the vector fin stabilizers, also winning its category for MACHINERY, PROPULSION, MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND FITTINGS.

Bill Dixon, Chairman of the Jury, presented the prestigious DAME Award 2013 to the vector fin stabiliser system from Sleipner Motor AS of Norway.

In its comments the Jury stated 'since inception this competition has highlighted excellent examples of how a commonplace item of marine equipment can be reimagined and redesigned to improve its function and form. In naming the vector fin stabiliser as DAME Award Winner this tradition continues.' 

'Sleipner Motor has thought out of the box to produce a fin that better suits many of the modern hull forms to which stabilisers are becoming a standard fit. The elegant curved shape of the fin beneficially directs force to improve roll reduction and decrease the side effects of yaw and sway. It also increases the leverage arm around the vessel’s rolling point and minimises drag. This is an incredibly simple solution to improving the experience of boatowners and their guests.'

'Being boaters ourselves, the DAME AWARD is a truly rewarding appreciation. And to go all the way to the top, being awarded the Overall Winner price, makes me very proud of the company and our dedicated employees', says managing director Arne Skauen, who has run the company since 1977.

The Jury also noted the slimline form of the vector fin’s SPS55 actuator, a welcome design feature that will assist designers and boatbuilders.

Chairman of the DAME Awards Jury, Bill Dixon, said the Jury was pleased with the quality of many of the entries this year and also the effort made by companies to present their products in a clear and concise way.

'For all marine products today we need a leap forward to attract buyers', Bill states. 'It’s not enough that a product does what it needs to do – it needs to look the part as well. We commend all entrants that have shown clear evidence of employing design right the way through the development and manufacturing process, from function to form.'

'The number of nominations this year is the highest for some time. This reflects the overall quality of the entry, which is undoubtedly improved on previous years. We also had a very close call to make between some of the category finalists before selecting a worthy DAME Award Winner.'

This year’s Category Winners are:

Marine electronics and marine related software
Glass Cockpit System by Volvo Penta, Sweden
Stand 09.208

Interior equipment, furnishing, materials and electrical fittings used in cabins
Skysol Motion by Oceanair Marine, United Kingdom
Stand 11.009

Marina equipment, boatyard equipment and boat construction tools and materials
Boat trailer by Vanclaes, The Netherlands
Stand 01.235

Deck equipment, sails and rigging
Clip-cleat by Nomen Products, Germany
Stand 04.230

Clothing and crew accessories
boarding ring by Reading, France
Stand 04.408A

Lifesaving and safety equipment
Monolite by Fraser Optics, USA
Stand 11.308

Machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electrical systems and fittings
vector fin stabilisers by Sleipner Motor, Norway
Stand 11.807

Overall DAME 2013 winner
vector fin stabilisers by Sleipner Motor, Norway
Stand 11.807

More at www.metstrade.com and http://sleipner.no/

By press release