Winner of 2014 BIC Award Announced
The winner of the 2014 BIC Award was announced today at a reception held at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters.
London, UK – The winner of the 2014 BIC Award was announced today at a reception held at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters. The winner of this year’s award is Ms. Olga Lefevre Pestel of France.
A highly respected marine transportation safety expert, Ms. Lefevre Pestel served for nine years as Chairman of the IMO’s Sub-Committee for Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC). She has served as head of the French delegation to numerous IMO Groups and was Chairman of the technical working group responsible for regulations related to dangerous goods from 2002-2011.
Since its founding in 1933, the mission of the Bureau International des Containers has been to promote the safe, secure and sustainable expansion of containerization and intermodal transportation. Each year, the BIC Award honors an individual or organization for a significant contribution to the advancement of these goals.
In announcing the decision, the BIC Board of Directors cited Ms. Lefevre Pestel’s highly effective stewardship of the DSC from 2003 to 2011 and in particularly her important contributions to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code leading to its 2014 adoption as mandatory under the SOLAS convention. Ms. Lefevre Pestel likewise made a major contribution to rendering the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code mandatory under SOLAS in 2011. As president of DSC she contributed significantly to the adoption of important amendments to the Convention for Safe Containers (CSC).
The award was presented by BIC Chairman Michel Hennemand who stated, “Ms. Lefevre Pestel is highly respected not only in France but among the international community as well, for her expertise in the area of dangerous goods, her excellent work as Chairman of the DSC Sub-committee and of the technical working group charged with editing dangerous goods regulations. While presiding over the DSC, Ms. Lefevre Pestel was appreciated by all for her sense of compromise and diplomacy as well as her technical expertise”.
Mr. Hennemand also thanked the Secretariat for the opportunity to present this year’s award at the IMO gathering, thus allowing Ms. Lefevre Pestel the opportunity to receive the well-deserved recognition in the company of her colleagues and friends from around the world.
A chemical engineer by training, Ms. Lefevre Pestel has over 22 years experience in maritime safety. She joined the French maritime ministry in 1992 and has held numerous high-level roles related to cargo safety, in particular related to the transport of dangerous goods. In 2012 she joined the maritime training directorate and this month became Deputy Assistant Director for Seafarers and Maritime Training at the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy – the French Ministry responsible for maritime affairs. Ms. Lefevre Pestel was made a Chevalier in the Ordre du Mérite Maritime in 2013.
The award ceremony was attended by the Secretary General of the IMO, Mr. Koji Sekimizu, distinguished heads of delegations and other representatives attending the opening night reception of the Sub-Committee on the Carriage of Cargoes (CCC), which replaces the DSC. The BIC is a regular participant at the CCC and holds official consultative status at the IMO.
London, UK – The winner of the 2014 BIC Award was announced today at a reception held at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters. The winner of this year’s award is Ms. Olga Lefevre Pestel of France.
A highly respected marine transportation safety expert, Ms. Lefevre Pestel served for nine years as Chairman of the IMO’s Sub-Committee for Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC). She has served as head of the French delegation to numerous IMO Groups and was Chairman of the technical working group responsible for regulations related to dangerous goods from 2002-2011.
Since its founding in 1933, the mission of the Bureau International des Containers has been to promote the safe, secure and sustainable expansion of containerization and intermodal transportation. Each year, the BIC Award honors an individual or organization for a significant contribution to the advancement of these goals.
In announcing the decision, the BIC Board of Directors cited Ms. Lefevre Pestel’s highly effective stewardship of the DSC from 2003 to 2011 and in particularly her important contributions to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code leading to its 2014 adoption as mandatory under the SOLAS convention. Ms. Lefevre Pestel likewise made a major contribution to rendering the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code mandatory under SOLAS in 2011. As president of DSC she contributed significantly to the adoption of important amendments to the Convention for Safe Containers (CSC).
The award was presented by BIC Chairman Michel Hennemand who stated, “Ms. Lefevre Pestel is highly respected not only in France but among the international community as well, for her expertise in the area of dangerous goods, her excellent work as Chairman of the DSC Sub-committee and of the technical working group charged with editing dangerous goods regulations. While presiding over the DSC, Ms. Lefevre Pestel was appreciated by all for her sense of compromise and diplomacy as well as her technical expertise”.
Mr. Hennemand also thanked the Secretariat for the opportunity to present this year’s award at the IMO gathering, thus allowing Ms. Lefevre Pestel the opportunity to receive the well-deserved recognition in the company of her colleagues and friends from around the world.
A chemical engineer by training, Ms. Lefevre Pestel has over 22 years experience in maritime safety. She joined the French maritime ministry in 1992 and has held numerous high-level roles related to cargo safety, in particular related to the transport of dangerous goods. In 2012 she joined the maritime training directorate and this month became Deputy Assistant Director for Seafarers and Maritime Training at the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy – the French Ministry responsible for maritime affairs. Ms. Lefevre Pestel was made a Chevalier in the Ordre du Mérite Maritime in 2013.
The award ceremony was attended by the Secretary General of the IMO, Mr. Koji Sekimizu, distinguished heads of delegations and other representatives attending the opening night reception of the Sub-Committee on the Carriage of Cargoes (CCC), which replaces the DSC. The BIC is a regular participant at the CCC and holds official consultative status at the IMO.