Bollore Transport Logistics and Signon Group dominated the second edition of the East Africa Maritime Awards (EAMA) 2020 in a colorful ceremony held on Friday, September 17,2021 at a Mombasa hotel.
Bollore emerged tops in four categories namely; best cargo transporter Kenya, best regional cargo logistics provider; best clearing and forwarding agent Uganda; and occupational health and safety in the awards which were grouped into nine clusters based on maritime functionality and service offering with a total of 27 distinct categories.
The company was also the first runner up in the category of best warehousing which was won by Signon Group. 
 
Besides this category, Signon Group also topped in the Innovation/initiative award and emerged the first runner-up in best regional cargo logistics provider and best clearing and forwarding agent Kenya.
Del Monte Kenya Limited, Express Shipping and Logistics (ESL) Forwarding Limited, Gulf Badr Group and Taha Fresh Handling Limited won in the categories of Exporter of the Year Award, best clearing and forwarding agent Kenya, best shipping line Kenya and best clearing and forwarding Agent Tanzania respectively. 
The best shipping agent (tramp agency), best shipping line agent (liner agency) and best cargo consolidator were won by ESL, CMA CGM Kenya Limited and ECU Worldwide Kenya Limited respectively.
Kenya Association of Manufacturers and Uganda Clearing Industry and Forwarding Association won the Best Private Sector Business Membership Organization in Kenya and Uganda respectively.
Lifetime Achiever and Young Achievers Awards went to Mr. Gilbert Lang’at and Ms. Mercy Ireri respectively.
 
The maritime journalist of the year award was won by Mr. Githua Kihara, who was followed by Martin Mwita and Hillary Makokha at second and third positions respectively. 
KPA Acting Managing Director Amb. John Mwangemi congratulated the winners of EAMA awards, an initiative of KPA, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade), Shippers Council of Eastern Africa (SCEA) and East African Business Council (EABC).
He said this year’s EAMA theme “Innovation, competitiveness and sustainability” was timely noting the COVID-19 pandemic had strengthened the case for digitization in the shipping industry.
“At the Port of Mombasa, we, from the onset of the pandemic, adjusted our conventional business processes and embraced ICT solutions which included online cargo clearance processes and payments for port charges thus reducing physical interpersonal contact and paper handling,” said the MD.
KRA Commissioner General Mr. Githii Mburu, said that through Customs and Border Control Department, a well-equipped marine unit has been established with six patrol boats that frequently conduct surveillance along the Indian ocean and Lake Victoria.  
He also said that in line with best practice in Customs operations, KRA recently implemented paperless processing procedures at the Port of Mombasa and Container Freight stations. 

“The new procedures are aimed at eliminating physical movement of correspondences and hence minimizing frequent interactions between clearing agents and our Customs officers,” he said in a speech delivered on his behalf by KRA Regional Coordinator Southern Region Mr. Joseph Tonui.  
Marketing Society of Kenya (MSK) Chief Executive Officer Mr. Edward Oswe said despite the pandemic the number of entries received for the EAMA 2020 awards had increased to 77 up from 64 in the previous edition.