The International Maritime Club (IMC) successfully hosted the Golden Shield Excellence Awards 2026 on 21 August 2026 at the Grande Sala Banquet Hall, Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage, Panaji, Goa, bringing together distinguished maritime professionals, industry leaders, organisations and innovators from across the maritime and allied sectors.

The prestigious awards celebrated individuals and organisations demonstrating exceptional leadership, innovation and professional excellence across shipping, shipbuilding, ship repair, ports, logistics, maritime technology, education, sustainability, research and crew welfare.

The Golden Shield Excellence Awards 2026 recognised a distinguished group of maritime organisations and professionals across diverse areas of the industry. Shipskart received the Excellence in Maritime Digital Transformation Award; Cochin Shipyard Limited, the Ship Repair Yard Excellence Award; Transworld Shipping Lines Limited, the Excellence in Integrated Shipping and Logistics Award; and The Great Eastern Shipping Company Limited, the Excellence in Fleet Management Award. 

Institute of Maritime Studies (Goa) was honoured for Excellence in Maritime Education & Training, while Docker Vision and J. M. Baxi Ports & Logistics received awards for Port Automation & Innovation and Port & Terminal Operations, respectively. Synergy Maritime Recruitment Services Private Limited was recognised for Maritime Recruitment & Training, with Bravio Group honoured for Vessel Support & Supply Chain Management and Mandovi Drydocks for Drydock Operations & Maritime Engineering. 

In sustainability and innovation, DNV Maritime received the Excellence in Maritime Decarbonization & Energy Transition Award, while IMU Chennai was recognised for Maritime Research & Innovation. Vedanta Limited Goa received the award for River Fleet & Cargo Operations, and Vijai Marine Shipyard for Custom Vessel Design & Construction. 

Individual honours included Dr. Malini V. Shankar as Woman Maritime Leader of the Year, Antony Marian Dsouza for Excellence in Maritime Global Leadership, Krishna Prasad for Leadership in Dredging & Marine Infrastructure, Capt. Binesh Kumar Tyagi as Maritime Personality of the Year, Shri Octavio Antony Rodrigues for Excellence in Port Administration, and Shri Shyam Jagannathan, IAS for Maritime Regulatory Leadership. 

The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. was named Shipping Company of the Year, Indian Register of Shipping received the Maritime Classification Society of the Year Award, and SeaBuddy was recognised with the Maritime Crew Welfare Excellence Award.

Through initiatives such as the Golden Shield Excellence Awards, IMC seeks to celebrate outstanding contributions and inspire the next generation of maritime leaders and innovators.