HLPFI is pleased to announce that St Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation has won the Innovation Award, sponsored by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean, at the Heavy Lift Awards 2020.

In a hotly contested category, St Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation took home the trophy for its implementation of hands-free mooring (HFM) at all St. Lawrence Seaway locks, which enables the remote operation of locks from any location, increasing personnel efficiency and safety, both for the seaway and its customers.

Hands-free mooring provides time, safety and monetary benefits to carriers by reducing the overall cost of vessel transits, while expanding the number of potential vessel options from 800 to over 8,000. This capacity will, in turn, help the seaway maintain and remain a competitive modal option, ensuring the gateway’s long-term sustainability.

The judges considered this to be a true innovation to an “old” problem – one that has the potential to be expanded across other regions and industries.

Congratulations are also in order for Straightpoint – The Crosby Group, which was highly commended by our panel for its Insight Software and Wireless Loadcell range.

HLPFI would also like to thank everyone that entered this year’s Innovation Award, and say a massive well done to the other finalists in this category – Eilon Engineering, Hareket Heavy Lifting & Project Transportation, Kamag / TII Group, Mammoet and SHIPNEXT.

You can see more about all of the shortlisted entries here.