The award, which was presented to Mr Ingpen on Tuesday, April 5, 2016, recognises individuals in the maritime industry who act as ambassadors for the industry and who, in their personal capacity and in their own time and at their own expense, promote the development of the industry and promote awareness of the industry in a manner that goes above and beyond their current job description.
Mr Ingpen – who received a standing ovation when announced as the winner – has made a significant contribution to the South African maritime industry as a dedicated and passionate maritime historian, author, journalist and, above all, educationalist.
Of the more than 40 years he has spent in education, he has dedicated the past 19 years to the advancement of the specialist maritime education programme at Simon’s Town School’s Lawhill Maritime Centre, a programme which has made it possible for hundreds of young people – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds – to pursue worthwhile, satisfying and potentially-lucrative careers in the maritime and related industries.
His contribution in this regard is particularly significant considering South Africa’s unacceptably high levels of youth unemployment and poverty.
He has, through his selfless dedication and remarkable vision, helped to establish the Lawhill Maritime Centre as a role model for schools-based maritime education in South Africa, if not the world.
Brian Ingpen is a man of integrity, a compassionate individual who has sacrificed vast amounts of personal and family time to make a real and visible difference in the lives of others and invest in a future maritime generation.
Lawhill also wishes to congratulate fellow finalists for the Maritime Maestro Award, Master Salvor Captain Nick Sloane (who gained global recognition for the successful raising and refloating of the capsized cruise ship, Costa Concordia, described as the largest salvage operation ever) and SAMSA COO, Sobantu Tilayi.
