The Hong Kong Shipowners Association proudly announces that our former Chairperson, Ms. Sabrina S. M. Chao, Executive Chairman of Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings Ltd. was named as the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) Commodore for the year 2018.

Ms. Chao was presented the 2018 Commodore Award at the Gala Dinner on 14 March 2018, marking the conclusion of the annual Connecticut Maritime Association conference and trade exposition, at the Hilton Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut, USA.

The Award is given each year to a person in the international maritime industry who has contributed to the growth and development of the industry.*

Joe Gross, President of the CMA, upon making the announcement, stated, “The CMA is honoured to present Ms. Sabrina Chao with the 2018 Commodore Award. Sabrina’s story is a personal and corporate story of commercial success and personal contribution to the health and future of the industry. Wah Kwong is of course a global brand and has been through generations, a distinction saved for only the most nimble, effective and forward looking businesses. Her family has always contributed to the industry and local maritime community as well, a commitment to service that has continued with her recent role, through November 2017, as Chairperson at the Hong Kong Shipowners Association. The CMA has been honoured to have had the support and participation of the HKSOA over our own decades of industry participation.

The Board believes that the engagement with multiple aspects of the industry, commercial standing and generosity of time and effort on behalf of community make for the perfect Commodore. For us here on the East Coast of the U.S. the central role in and understanding of Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the remarkable One Belt One Road initiative is just icing on the cake for our community.”*

Our heartiest congratulations to Ms. Chao on this achievement.

Apart from Ms. Chao, the Hong Kong Shipowners Association delegation to the CMA Shipping 2018 consisted of Mr. Benjamin K.F. Wong, Mr. Jon Zinke, Mr. Mats Berglund, Mr. Kishore Rajvanshy, Mr. Jian Jun Wang, Mr. Winton Porter, Mr. Zhou Jianfeng, Mr. Andrew Lemmis, Mr. Nigel Moore, Ms. Han Deng, Mr. Lars Forsberg, Mr. Greg Chase, Mr. Peter Guo, Mr. Zhen Li, Mr. Qi Yang, and Ms. Sandy Chan.

Ms. Sandy Chan, the Managing Director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, gave a presentation at a panel discussion on the topic, “China – What the New 5-Year Plans Means for Industrial Shipping”.

About the CMA*
The Connecticut Maritime Association is a non-profit organization built by its members for its members. It is an Association made of individuals representing every aspect of shipping and international trade. The CMA Education Foundation is one of the largest providers of scholarships, academic prizes and internship supports in the US.

About CMA Shipping 2018*
For the past 33 years the Connecticut Maritime Association has convened a trade show and conference in Stamford, Connecticut that has dealt with the commanding issues of the day, provided a dynamic commercial market place for products and services and brought together the international leaders of the shipping industry to seriously address opportunities and challenges from environmental regulations to major commercial developments. Proceeds from the Show support the CMA Education Foundation.

*Citations – CMA’s press release of date 20 December 2017 and photos are courtesy CMA and Mr. John Galayda