BATH
On Wednesday, the Maine Maritime Museum will award Eimskip USA the Mariners Award.
“The trustees of the museum selected Eimskip USA as the 2016 Mariner of the Year because Eimskip’s decision to make Portland its primary U.S. port of call has had, and will continue to have, a transformative effect on Maine’s maritime commerce and culture,” said museum Director of Development Peggy Schick.
The Mariners Award is an annual award “presented to an individual or organization that has made extraordinary contributions to Maine’s maritime heritage and significantly impacted the state’s culture and economy.”
Past Mariners Award winners include Maine Pilotage Commission & The Port of Portland Board of Harbor Commissioners, William E. Haggett, former president of Bath Iron Works, and the National Maritime Historical Society.
Since arriving in Portland in 2013, Eimskip has transformed the Maine shipping industry. It has opened up a number of North Atlantic ports to Maine businesses and industries, while encouraging increased shipping infrastructure at home, particularly in Portland.
“Eimskip is our North Atlantic connection — connecting Maine to North Atlantic markets and to the arctic. With their arrival in Maine, for the first time in over 40 years we have direct liner service to North Atlantic destinations, from Halifax all the way up to Murmansk, Russia,” said Dana Eidsness, director of the Maine North Atlantic Development Office at the Maine International Trade Center.
“Our exports to Iceland grew by 2,455 percent between 2012-2015 and Eimskip’s investment in Maine has been a catalyst for good things; the Port of Portland has doubled in size, rail has been extended–connecting the Port of Portland and Eimskip’s network with freight customers throughout North America and we have a cold storage facility planned for the Portland waterfront,” added Eidsness. “Through this relationship, both Maine and Iceland serve as effective hubs to greater global markets. This represents significant opportunities for Maine businesses.”
Additionally, Eimskip has opened Maine up to participation in the Arctic Council, of which the United States is one of eight member nations. The council was formed in 1996 to address issues of particular concern to nations with Arctic territory.
“At Eimskip’s urging, and with the active support of Sen. Angus King, Maine has become an active member of the multinational Arctic Council, the leading intergovernmental forum for the discussion of sustainable development, environmental protection, and other issues in the Arctic. With Portland hosting the first Arctic Council forum in the United States outside of Alaska this fall, this is a big deal for Maine,” added Schick.
Maine Maritime Museum will host a ceremony with members and Eimskip representatives on Wednesday evening to present the award to Isfeld, who is accepting on behalf of the company. John Henshaw, executive director of the Maine Port Authority, will be the keynote speaker at the event.
“It’s with honour that we receive this recognition for our work here in Maine during the past three years,” said Larus Isfeld, managing director of Eimskip USA. “Our goal is to provide this community with weekly service and connect Maine businesses to a market of over 600 million people in Europe. The award highlights our goal and the importance the community places on our continued efforts to provide the state with direct service to major European markets. We look forward to the challenges ahead.”
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