New norm highlights DAME 2019 Winner

Amsterdam, Netherlands (November 19, 2019) – Birgit Schnaase (above, right), Chair of the Jury, presented the prestigious DAME Award 2019 at the commencement of the METSTRADE show this morning to the U SAFE self-propelled lifebuoy. Winners were named in all categories and 17 received Special Mentions.

METSTRADE is the world’s largest trade exhibition for the international marine leisure industry, and the 29th Design Award METSTRADE competition attracted 118 entries spanning 27 countries, from which it nominated a total of 59 products for consideration in the final judging rounds. The 2019 show is from November 19 to 21.

This year saw several Category Winners reach a closely debated final round to decide the overall DAME prize. The ultimate decision went to the U SAFE, a reinvention of the traditional life-saving ring that is auto-propelled and remote controlled.

Featuring robust, understated and very clean design, the U SAFE can be launched from boat, marina, or shore in line of site at speeds of up to 8 knots and operates for up to 30 minutes. The design incorporates completely flush jet drives and large rigid grab holds, as well as an easy-to-access u-shaped area to swim into. It offers the promise of enhanced lifesaving options for casualties in the water, with less risk to rescuers.

The Jury found the U SAFE to be a perfect example of how accepted norms for products in widespread use across the marine leisure world can be examined and improved by great design effort.

“We discussed at our Jury meeting this year just how influential design is in the world around us,” noted Chair of the Jury, Birgit Schnaase. “It is critical that marine companies focus on design, in all of its aspects, to ensure that consumer expectations are met when they go boating.

“We also need smart design to address important issues like production efficiency, environmental impact improvement, and greater integration. The role of the DAME Awards in identifying stand-out examples of good practice has never been more valuable.

“The mix of entries this year was submitted from the largest number of countries yet seen in the DAME. Our final selection represents a wide-ranging field of products, from new materials and items of personal boating equipment, to complex electronics and large items of machinery. All providing evidence of further strength in the field of marine industry design.”

Each year the organizers of the METSTRADE Show donate the combined registration fees for the DAME Design Award to selected charities as a way of giving back to society. For 2019 the METSTRADE Exhibition Committee selected two charities to receive the funds – sailing4handicaps and The Little Optimist Trust. Each received a check for €8,850 to assist their very worthy initiatives at the DAME Awards presentation this morning.

Dame Winners 2019

DAME Award 2019
• U-SAFE TRADING U SAFE

This year’s Category winners:

Marine Electronics and Marine Related Software
• Garmin GPSMAP 86i

Interior Equipment, Furnishings, Materials and Electrical Fittings Used In Cabins
• Lumitec Moray Flex Light

Marina Equipment, Boatyard Equipment and Boat Construction Tools and Materials
• LIGNIA Wood Company

Deck Equipment, Sails and Rigging
• Karver KCW Compact Winch and KWH Winch Handle

Clothing and Crew Accessories
• Mustang Callan Waterproof Jacket and Salopettes

Lifesaving and Safety Equipment
• U-SAFE TRADING U SAFE

Machinery, Propulsion, Mechanical and Electrical
Systems and Fittings
• Garmin Force Trolling Motor
• Navico GHOST Trolling Motor

Special mentions:

Marine Electronics and Marine Related Software
• Digital Yacht GPS160 TriNav Positioning Sensor
• FLIR M364C Marine Thermal Camera System
• Raymarine DockSense Alert Assisted Docking
• Vesper Cortex

Interior Equipment, Furnishing, Materials and Electrical Fittings Used in Cabins
• Lumishore Lumi-Link Wireless

Marina Equipment, Boatyard Equipment and Boat Construction Tools and Materials
• Teakdecking systems The Applicator

Deck Equipment, Sails and Rigging
• Bamar BFBMMSS Boom Furling Manual Mechanism
• Fender Design FlexiCush
• Marlow Blue Ocean Dockline
• Scanstrut ROKK Wireless – Active/Edge

Clothing and Crew Accessories
• Dacoblue collapsible fuel and water backpack
• Ursuit Gemino Navigator

Lifesaving and Safety Equipment
• ACR ResQLink View Personal Locator Beacon
• Spinlock Deckvest 6D Lifejacket
• Wichard offshore rescue knife

Machinery, Propulsion, Mechanical and Electrical Systems and Fittings
• Dometic Optimus Electric Remote Mount Steering Actuator
• Teignbridge Clamp on Blade Propeller

The DAME Design Award celebrates everything that is important about marine equipment design, from aesthetics to functionality, integration to packaging and price efficiency to lifecycle management. It offers opportunities for all METSTRADE Show exhibitors from around the world to submit their latest products and have them judged by experts spanning all areas of design.

Because of this wider focus, the DAME encourages the whole marine industry to continuously improve its design efforts, to the last detail. Entrants are not just judged against their global peers – the DAME Jury recognizes improvements from year-to-year within individual companies too.

METSTRADE is organised by RAI Amsterdam in association with ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations). The show’s target groups are yacht builders, naval architects, repair yards, distributors, dealers, wholesalers, captains, marina operators and equipment manufacturers from around the world. Three dedicated specialist pavilions are part of METSTRADE: the SuperYacht Pavilion, the Marina & Yard Pavilion and the Construction Material Pavilion.

Source: METSTRADE