First prize in the FONASBA Young Ship Agent or Ship Broker Award (2025) been won by Otto Hillerström for his paper on “Navigating AI impacts & transformation of dry cargo shipbroking“.
The YABA Review Committee commented: “His study analyses how artificial intelligence is influencing the shipbroking profession, questioning whether AI will replace brokers or rather complement their work. The paper concludes that, given the shipping industry’s strong reliance on trust and personal relationships, AI should be seen as a supportive tool that improves efficiency, reduces workload, and enhances service quality without replacing the shipbroker. It also highlights “market development” as the most balanced strategy for shipbrokers moving forward, depending on company size.”
Mr Hillerström won the first prize package comprises a €1,000 cash prize from FONASBA, a €500 cash prize from ITIC, access to a BIMCO e-Learning module of his choice, complimentary entry to either the FONASBA ACB Liner Shipping Transportation or Tramp Shipping course, a Certificate of Achievement, and an opportunity to present their work at the FONASBA Annual Meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye (October 2025).
Second place winner
Mr Rodrigo Lopes Avila took second place with his paper: “Challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in a shipping agency” .
The Awards Committee commented: “his study focuses on identifying the main challenges and opportunities maritime agencies face during digital transformation, emphasizing the need to build a new digital environment centred on data sharing. This environment aims to improve visibility, agility, predictability and enable better data-driven decision-making.”
Mr Lopes Avila wins a complimentary entry to the ASBA Shipbrokering & Charter Vessel Operations (SBCVO) Course, courtesy of FONASBA U.S. member association, ASBA.
Third place winner
The Awards Committee also decided to award the third prize to Mr. Ricardo Luiz Von Sohsten Pereira for his paper “Small ports: the vital role in the global trade network“.
The Committee commented: “his paper highlights how small ports, though often overlooked in favour of larger terminals, play a vital role in global trade and regional development. They support local industries, connect remote areas to global supply chains, and help relieve congestion at major ports. With their specialized services and flexibility, small ports can quickly adapt to market needs. Maritime agents play a key role in this ecosystem, ensuring efficient coordination, minimizing delays, and navigating local regulations. Despite the dominance of large ports, small ports remain essential nodes in international logistics, offering strategic, cost-effective, and resilient solutions to the shipping industry.”
New this year, the third prize was made possible by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, offering a set of five textbooks valued at £550 to further the winner’s professional development.
Congratulations from the Committee
This year, FONASBA received papers from 10 countries around the world: Brazil, Croatia, Sweden, Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Argentina, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.
In congratulating the winners, Mr. Aziz Mantrach, Chairman of the YABA Review Committee, remarked:
“Beyond the numbers, the improvement in content quality is remarkable. This year’s papers covered diverse and innovative topics such as: the impact of artificial intelligence and digital transformation on shipbroking and agency services, the role of small ports in global trade, sustainability and fuel efficiency in maritime operations, as well as diversity issues such as women’s opportunities in ship agency roles. Candidates also addressed broader themes like accountability and transparency in maritime trade, the future role of ship agents by 2025, and navigating complex international contexts marked by polycrisis and permacrisis.”
The Chair continued: “I would like to express my sincere thanks to our sponsors: BIMCO, ITIC, ASBA, and the Barcelona Ship Agents Association, for their generous support. I also extend heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Review Committee: Stinne Taiger Ivø, Mark Brattman, Jakov Kemelic, Anacreon Mataragas, and Antonios Venieris, for their dedication in reviewing a record number of papers this year.”
YABA Committee
This year, the Review Committee comprised
- Aziz Mantrach, Committee Chair, nominated by the Executive Committee, supported by Stinne Taiger Ivø (BIMCO) and Mark Brattman (ITIC)
- Antonios Venieris, Chair of the FONASBA Education and Quality Committee
- Jakov Karmelic, former FONASBA VP for Education
- Anacreon Mataragas, representing the International Maritime Union of Greece.
