During yesterday’s Soundings Trade Only 2020 Leadership Summit, publisher Michele Goldsmith and editor-in-chief Jeff Moser announced the winners of this year’s Most Innovative Marine Companies Awards.

The awards honor forward-thinking companies that are transforming the future of the marine industry through new initiatives, processes, technologies, directions and more, from large global companies to small startups.

“We had a 42 percent increase in applications in 2020. The submissions were impressive, showing depth and vision,” said Goldsmith in a statement. “It was difficult to choose the winners — there were so many strong and varied applications. Even with this year’s challenges, the industry shows resilience and continues to push progress.”

Each submission across a variety of categories was individually evaluated by a judging panel that included Moser and Goldsmith, as well as Bill Sisson, vice president and editorial director of the Active Interest Media Marine Group; Gary De Sanctis, president of the AIM Marine Group; Frank Marciano, former president of Dometic Marine; and Thom Dammrich, former president of the National Marine Manufacturing Association.

Correct Craft was named the top overall winner.

Judges cited a variety of reasons that the company took the top spot, from its groundbreaking Culture Summit, which was held in January, to its pledge to help protect frontline workers with the manufacturing of PPE, protect its own staff with infrared technology, and the foresight to push boundaries with the Watershed Innovation Group — with a focus is on sustainable propulsion solutions and other eco-conscious technology.

The full list of Most Innovative Marine Companies Award winners (in alphabetical order) are below, with the order of the winners being unveiled in the November issue of Soundings Trade Only.

• BRNKL by Barnacle Systems

• Brunswick/Mercury/Power Products

• Correct Craft

• Dometic Marine

• Garmin

• Malibu Boats

• MarineMax

• Seakeeper

• Siren Marine

• Volvo Penta

Honorable mentions were awarded to Derema Group, Scout Boats, Suzuki Motor of America and Yanmar.

“This is my first time judging these awards and reading the submissions. What I was most impressed with was not only the across-the-board innovation that was on display, but the effort each put forth in their entry,” said Moser. “We are at a very interesting crossroads in the marine industry, and innovation is taking hold like never before. I can’t wait to see what the future brings — and I know that this industry will continue to impress.”