Maritime Meets Culinary: A night of connection, conservation and culture

This video captures the excitement and purpose of the launch of "Mealtimes With My Maritime Friends", a unique cookbook uniting 60 recipes from maritime leaders worldwide. Discover how this extraordinary collection of culinary traditions is directly supporting the MarineBEAR Award, a crucial initiative dedicated to funding ground-breaking marine conservation projects

Friends from the maritime and offshore industries, and beyond, gathered for the launch of the recipe book Mealtimes with My Maritime Friends and the conservation prize, The MarineBEAR Award. The evening seamlessly blended culinary arts, networking opportunities and a shared commitment to ocean conservation.

Featuring 60 inspiring recipes contributed by maritime professionals from across the globe, "Mealtimes with My Maritime Friends" acts as a vibrant cultural tapestry, weaving together diverse traditions through the universal language of food. As one enthusiastic attendee remarked, "It's a book contributed with different cultures, different people, but still connected to each other in some way... it's probably one of the probably most interesting cookbooks I've ever seen in my life."

"It's a book contributed with different cultures, different people, but still connected to each other in some way... it's probably one of the probably most interesting cookbooks I've ever seen in my life."

The book launch event itself, held at the ING offices in London, was meticulously curated to celebrate both culture and conservation. Guests embarked on a captivating art tour, savoured expertly paired wines with a delectable buffet dinner, and witnessed the official unveiling of the cookbook. Stephen Fewster, Global Head of Shipping at ING, and a key supporter of the initiative, eloquently captured the personal connection evoked by the recipes, noting many of the recipe contributors were in the audience and how "The food that they had prepared brought back very happy family memories". The event fostered a sense of camaraderie, with attendees highlighting it as "a good opportunity to meet maritime [and other] friends and colleagues" and appreciating the unexpectedly rich "beautiful arts" on display.

At the launch, guests were treated to an extraordinary culinary journey that went beyond mere dining. From perfectly paired wines to recipes that tell stories of heritage and family, each dish served as a bridge between cultures and memories

For all the elegant ambiance and networking the evening was underpinned by a far-reaching mission: to safeguard our oceans. Every purchase of "Mealtimes with My Maritime Friends" directly supports the newly launched annual MarineBEAR Award, an initiative dedicated to funding ground-breaking marine conservation projects that utilise innovative technology. As Mr Fewster stated, "Anything that can be done to help support [such a cause] is something ING is very passionate about".

"Anything that can be done to help support [such a cause] is something ING is very passionate about"

The inaugural 2025 MarineBEAR Award has been granted to Carolina de la Hoz Schilling for her vital work on shark and ray conservation in West Africa. Her project will employ baited remote underwater video surveys to monitor threatened species and identify critical nursery habitats. This crucial research will establish a baseline for future conservation measures. The award will fund essential project needs, such as underwater cameras and equipment.

The MarineBEAR Award welcomes applications from individuals at all stages of project development who are using conservation technology to research or protect marine life. The award aims to support various critical marine conservation challenges, including habitat loss, human-marine life conflict, and climate change impacts. The selection process involved the Director of Marine Environment at BIMCO, Dr Beverley Mackenzie, science journalist and author, Dr Olive Heffernan, ensuring a fair and knowledgeable evaluation.

The award aims to support various critical marine conservation challenges, including habitat loss, human-marine life conflict, and climate change impacts

Mealtimes With My Maritime Friends is of course more than just a collection of recipes; it is a fundraising initiative where 100% of the royalties are dedicated to vital causes, including the MarineBEAR Award. The book features contributions from 60 leading maritime personalities and offers a diverse culinary journey.

Ready to be part of this impactful movement? You can make a tangible difference by getting your copy of "Mealtimes With My Maritime Friends" on Amazon or directly from the publisher. And , if you are developing innovative technology for marine conservation, The MarineBEAR Award could provide the essential support to realise your vision. Apply now at bitly/marineaward and join the growing community of pioneers dedicated to ocean protection.

Every purchase, every innovation, every action truly counts. And as always, Everyone's Invited!