Filipina NAMED Seafarer of the Year in Crew Connect Global Awards

Filipina NAMED Seafarer of the Year in Crew Connect Global Awards
Yashika F. Torib November 19, 2025 https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/11/19/business/maritime/filipina-named-...

Seafarer of the Year Awardee Captain Zulaika Florin - Master Mariner, OSM Thome PHOTO BY WILMAR ALMERIA
ZULAIKA Florin was among the five seafarers from across the world who were shortlisted in the Seafarer of the Year Award, a category for the 2025 Crew Connect Global Awards that honors individual seafarers who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and contributions to the maritime community.

Florin is a master mariner who works at OSM Thome under Hafnia, the world’s largest tanker company.

Florin is described in one of OSM Thome’s social media posts as a ship officer who “continues to break boundaries in the maritime world with her grit, grace, and unwavering leadership. From upholding respect and fairness onboard to making difficult calls in moments of crisis, she leads with conviction and compassion.”

“Sailing on a tanker ship carrying chemicals is very rare and I want to excel on it. I did not expect that I would be a captain — but I did! It’s not easy for a woman like me, I’m like an elephant passing in a needle’s hole. I need to prove and show what I got and what I can bring to the table. Patience, faith, and my family’s support keep me going,” she said on a separate interview.

Maritime leaders, professionals win Crew Connect Global Award

Seven other maritime professionals and leaders won the Seatrade Maritime Award last Nov. 12. These awards acknowledge excellence, innovation, and leadership among organizations and individuals working to advance crew welfare, safety, and professional development.

This year’s winners are:

Innovation and Technology Award: Maersk Training
Training and Safety at Sea Award: Capital Group
Environmental & Green Transition Award: Signol
Health and Wellbeing at Sea Award: Agwa
Industry Partner Award: Adopt A Ship International
Seafarer of the Year Award, sponsored by Air France - KLM: Capt. Zulaika Florin - Master Mariner, OSM Thome

Lifetime Achievement Awardee 2025: Capt. Belal Ahmed, Immediate Past Chairman of IMEC and MD of Western Shipping, Singapore

The Industry Champion Award - Audience Choice: Steven Jones, founder at Seafarers Happiness Index

“I’m delighted to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the eight outstanding winners of this year’s Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global Awards. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the rigorous assessment process undertaken by our judges, particularly when faced with such exceptionally strong entries as we saw this year. Both our finalists and winners should take immense pride in their remarkable achievements and the transformative progress they are driving throughout the maritime industry,” Chris Morlet, group director of the Seatrade Maritime, said.