PORT CANAVERAL, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Peter Richards, CEO of GT USA and Managing Director of Gulftainer, the largest privately-owned, independent port operator in the world, has been awarded the Golden Helm Excellence Award 2015 in the Trade and Export category by Sharjah’s International Maritime Club (IMC) in the United Arab Emirates.
“Gulftainer has recorded consistent growth over the past decade. 2015 has been a particularly exciting year for Gulftainer and myself, as we saw a major milestone with the opening of the company’s Canaveral Cargo Terminal following its expansion to the U.S. with a 35-year agreement at Port Canaveral, Florida,” Richards said.
“We have placed a strong focus on developing the maritime industry in the region by providing high level operations to international standards, and it is an honor to see our efforts recognized by our industry peers with this award,” said Richards.
With more than 12 years of seagoing experience and 28 years of expertise in the operation and management of ports and container terminals, Peter Richards has played a key role in building Gulftainer’s reputation in its home ports, enabling the company to bring its competencies and productivity worldwide.
He has established the company’s credentials as a premier international port operator with an annual throughput of over 6 million TEUs, and he most recently took the reins to drive the company’s global expansion into the United States with the opening of GT USA, its North American division with headquarters in Florida.
GT USA, which is investing more than $100 million in Canaveral Cargo Terminal, was selected to operate the port’s first container terminal based on Gulftainer’s international experience in exceeding industry requirements and efficiency. Under the strategic direction of Richards, GT USA is working to encourage international carriers to make Port Canaveral the preferred port on the Florida East Coast and the ideal gateway to serve Metropolitan Orlando.
The IMC Golden Helm Excellence Awards recognize individuals whose outstanding career achievements in shipping, marine, offshore and oil and gas fields have earned them national or international prominence in the maritime sector. Sohan Roy, President of the Club, said: “Peter Richards’ outstanding trade and export achievements throughout the years, alongside his ability to build strategic alliances and to surround himself with talented people in pursuit of success for all, made him the perfect candidate for this year’s award.”
About Gulftainer
Gulftainer is the largest privately-owned, independent port operator in the world. Established in the Emirate of Sharjah, UAE in 1976, Gulftainer is a rapidly expanding, dynamic ports and logistics company operating in various parts of the world. In the UAE, Gulftainer operates three main ports on behalf of the Sharjah Port Authority - Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT), Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) and Hamriyah. Outside of the UAE, the Gulftainer Group also operates and manages ports and logistics businesses in several countries, including the Iraq Container Terminal, the Iraq Project Terminal and Umm Qasr Logistics Centre in Iraq, Karachi in Pakistan, Recife in Brazil, Tripoli in Lebanon, Istanbul in Turkey and in the Northern Container Terminal in Jeddah, the Jubail Islamic Port and the Jubail Container Terminal in Saudi Arabia. The Company’s most recent facility, GT USA Canaveral Cargo Terminal, opened in Florida in June 2015, making Gulftainer the first Middle Eastern port management company to operate in the United States. For information about GT USA, please visit: www.gulftainer.com/us
About IMC
International Maritime Club (IMC) is a non-profit organization which works for the conscious and continuous development of the vast maritime industry. IMC is associated with more than 200 maritime organizations across the globe. For more information, visit www.internationalmaritimeclub.com.
