METSTRADE reveals DAME Award winners 2022

Ocean Signal’s RescueME PLB3 AIS Personal Locator Beacon has been announced as the Overall Winner of the DAME Awards at METSTRADE 2022.

Andre Hoek, chair of the DAME Award jury, presented the 31st-anniversary DAME Award at the opening of the METSTRADE show this morning (15 November 2022) during the METSTRADE Breakfast Briefing in the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre.

With the introduction of Automatic Identification System (AIS) functionality, Return Link Service (RLS) technology, and Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities in one 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), the RescueME PLB3 is said to represent a significant step forward in the evolution of PLBs.

In reaching its decision, the jury said it recognised that Ocean Signal had harnessed multiple technologies in such a small unit and the firm’s determination to make already good products into better ones to maximise the chance of saving lives.

Commenting on the result, Hoek said: “As time passes, the boundaries of products that we examine in the DAME jury room get ever wider. This year, we assessed everything from a tiny boat and outboard tracker to a 65-tonne travel hoist. Whatever its size, price or complexity though, the jury remains very focused on examining the design of products in all aspects, from function, form, environment, innovation, and price to performance. All 48 nominees are to be congratulated on meeting the scrutiny of this process.”

“Our overall DAME Design Award winner is an excellent example of how you can never stop pushing to make new improvements, even in a segment of the marketplace where products are already impressively advanced in what they achieve for the size and price.”

A total of 48 products were shortlisted for the 31st DAME Award competition, from a field of 104 entries spanning 14 countries.

Six products took category wins, 13 more received special mentions and the jury named its first Environmental Design Award this morning.

DAME Awards 2022

Overall winner: Ocean Signal – RescueME PLB3 AIS Personal Locator Beacon

This year’s category winners:

Marine electronics and marine-related software

Raymarine UK — YachtSense Link 4G Marine Router
Stand 01.111

Deck equipment, sails and rigging

Amare Srl — Arya
Stand 03.445

Lifesaving and safety equipment

Ocean Signal — RescueME PLB3 AIS Personal Locator Beacon
Stand 03.438

Machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electrical systems

Integrel Solutions — Integrel…….The Next Generation
Stand 01.580

Clothing and crew accessories

Rooster Sailing — Aquafleece Robe
Stand 05.508

Marina equipment, boatyard equipment and boat construction tools and materials

MarineShift360 — MarineShift360 Lifecycle Assessment Tool
Stand 12.901

The jury named Aceleron as its first discretionary Environmental Design Award winner for the Essential sustainable battery (stand 02.117).

The Aceleron Essential is a cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate battery with replaceable and upgradeable parts. Returned parts are redistributed or remanufactured for second-life use.

Speaking about the jury’s decision on this award, Hoek explained: “Notable iterative design steps towards a sustainable future are those we hope to highlight with this discretionary award. For that reason, we commend Aceleron’s efforts with modern battery technologies to break an unwelcome norm for whole products to be disposed of when just one component is broken.”

The full jury report is now available online.

The DAME Design Awards was launched in 1991 to promote design in all disciplines and to recognise the best-designed products at the METSTRADE show. In making its judgements, the jury seeks to emphasise the importance of design for all marine products, from function to aesthetics and from packaging to the end product.

All DAME-nominated products are now featured on a special display at METSTRADE, located at the heart of the show in the Elicium (Hall 13).