Ronald D. Widdows, the president and CEO of Singapore-based container shipping and logistics group, Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) was named an  "Admiral of the Ocean Seas," one of the shipping industry’s top awards. Widdows received the prestigious award, conferred by the United Seamen’s Service in New York recently.

The citation recognized his contribution to the maritime sector over a period of decades and described him as a leading voice on transport public policy issues, as well as acknowledging the contribution of the NOL’s container shipping arm, APL, to key innovations throughout the history of containerized transportation.

In presenting the award, former United States Secretary of Transportation Mr. Norman Mineta commended Mr. Widdows' work in alerting policy-makers to the pressing need to invest in infrastructure and the strain on intermodal capacity due to increasing trade volumes.

The 67-year-old United Seamen’s Service, which has sponsored the award for 40 years, provides social, professional and health services to merchant mariners around the globe.

Mr. Widdows said: “Receiving the Admiral of the Ocean Seas award ranks among the highlights of my career. It’s recognition for my company as a whole from people at the heart of the industry, who are passionate about shipping.”

"It represents the appreciation of our industry peers for the work we do to enable global trade to flourish."

Mr. Widdows and his company are known as industry innovators. He was, for example, part of the APL team that has been credited with pioneering major aspects of the intermodal transport system that today underpins world trade.