Captain Gianluigi Aponte

Ceremony of Carus Excellence Award 2025 during the Spanish Shipowners’ Association General Assembly -Hotel Wellington Madrid 2025, to Captain Gianluigi Aponte the Founder and Group Chairman of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA.

Born in Sorrento, Italy, Mr Aponte started his career as a captain operating passenger ferries in the Mediterranean for his family’s business after graduating from the Italian Maritime Academy. In 1970, following a break from the world of maritime transport to work as a banker for a number of years, Captain Aponte returned to the industry to start his own business, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.

Inspired by his vision that “where the customer goes, MSC goes”, Captain Aponte has since grown MSC from a single vessel operation to become one of the largest container shipping lines in the world, while remaining true to his core family values of caring for employees and customers.

Mr. Matteo Catani, CEO of GNV, accepted and received the award on behalf of Mr. Aponte and is pictured here with the other Carus Excellence Award winners.

Ceremony of Carus Excellence Award 2023 to Ettore Morace, CEO of Trasmed-Grimaldi during the Spanish Shipowners’ Association General Assembly -Hotel Wellington Madrid, June 21, 2023.

John Bertell Carus Director of Sales with Ettore Morace.

Carus Roundtable with GNV, Trasmed Grimaldi and Trasmapi (IMG group), guests.

Ettore Morace 

Carus Excellence Award 2023 to Ettore Morace —CEO of Trasmed Grimaldi, for his Excellency in the dedication and contribution to the Spanish and European ferry industry.

Ettore has a long history in the maritime shipping industry. He received his education at the Maritime College of Naples and he began his career with Alisur S.A., a shipping company based in Spain. Among other positions, he has also worked as Fast Ferry Manager of Flebasa, was Managing Director of all the shipping companies within the Rodriquez Group, from 1997 until 2006 – Member of the Board and Sales & Marketing Director of Rodriquez Cantieri Navali S.p.A., a shipbuilder company based in Messina, Italy. From 1994 until 1997, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Ustica Lines S.p.A., a shipping company based in Trapani, Italy. From 2011 until 2013 - member of the board of Hellenic Sea Ways, a shipping company based in Pireus, Greece. From 2011 till july 2015 – Chairman and Managing Director of Tirrenia – Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione spa, a shipping company based in Naples, Italy. From July 2015 till 2017 – Managing Director of Liberty Lines spa, a shipping company based in Trapani, Italy. From 2015 till 2017 – Member of the Board of Confitarma, the Italian Shipowners Association. From March 2016 till 2017, President and Managing Director of Siremar – Società Navigazione Siciliana, a shipping company based in Palermo, Italy. In 1999 he co-founded Balearia, a shipping company based in Denia, Spain where he was Member of the Board and General Manager of Operations from January 2018 to April 2020.

He is currently CEO of TRASMED GLE SL, a shipping company within the GRIMALDI GROUP that is based in Valencia, Spain. He is also Managing Director and founder of Malta Shipbroker International Ltd, a brokerage company based in Malta.

Ceremony of Carus Excellence Award 2022 to Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Britany Ferries, during the Spanish Shipowners’ Association General Assembly -Hotel Wellington Madrid, July 21, 2022.

Christophe Mathieu

Carus Excellence Award 2022 to Christophe Mathieu —CEO of Brittany Ferries, for his Excellency in the dedication and contribution to the Spanish and European ferry industry.

Anders Rundberg —CEO of Carus, Ms. María José Rallo —General Secretary for Transport, Mr. Benito Núñez —General Directorate of the Spanish Merchant Marine, and Jose Rodríguez —Carus Spain Representative.

The General Secretary for Transport, Ms. María José Rallo, during her speech.

The president of ANAVE, Mr. Vicente Boluda Fos, during his speech at the closing ceremony of the association's General Assembly.

Ceremony of Carus Excellence Award 2021 to Alejandro Aznar President of Ibaizabal Group and outgoing president of ANAVE, during the Spanish Shipowners’ Association General Assembly -Hotel Wellington Madrid, July 20, 2021.

Alejandro Aznar 

Carus Excellence Award 2021 to Alejandro Aznar —President IBAIZABAL Group, for his Excellency in the dedication and contribution to the Spanish and European maritime industry.

Jose Rodriguez —Carus Spain Representative, during the delivery of the Award to Alejandro Aznar.

Mrs. Raquel Sánchez —Spanish Minister for Transport.

Alejandro Aznar, President of Ibaizabal Group and outgoing president of ANAVE.

Jose Rodríguez with the Carus guests, in the Carus tables: Ettore Morace —CEO Trasmed Grimaldi, Christophe Mathieu —President of Brittany Ferries, Marcos Marí Washbourne —President of TRASMAPI and co-owner and Vicepresident of the INSOTEL Group, and Matteo Catani —CEO GNV.

And Matteo De Candia —Freight Director of GNV, Rafael Cardona —General Director of TRASMAPI, Mario Massarotti —CEO of Grimaldi Spain, and Matteo Della Valle —Passenger Director of GNV.

Ceremony of Carus Excellence Award 2020 to Nils-Erik Eklund was canceled by COVID.

Nils-Erik Eklund 

Carus Excellence Award 2020
To Nils-Erik Eklund for his Excellency in the dedication and contribution to the maritime and ferry industry worldwide.

Nils-Erik Eklund is Member of The Board of Directors of Viking Line since 1997 and also a member of the Board of Directors of Interferry since 2008, the trade association that represents the worldwide industry. Nils-Erik was president and CEO of Viking Line from 1990 t0 2010. During his entire career of four decades he has pioneered the work to reduce the environmental impacts of the transport of passengers and freight at sea. During his tenure as CEO, Viking Line was one of the first shipping companies in the world to implement the International Safety Management Code. Also Viking Line was successful in winning the Award of the European Foundation for Quality Management related to large companies in Finland.

Ceremony of Carus Excellence Award 2019 to Mike Corrigan Ceo of INTERFERRY, during the Spanish Shipowners’ Association (ANAVE) General Assembly -Hotel Wellington Madrid, June 18, 2019.

Mike Corrigan 

Carus Excellence Award 2019
To Mike Corrigan -CEO of INTERFERRY,
for his Excellency in the dedication and contribution
to the maritime and ferry industry worldwide.

The Spanish Minister of Transport during the delivery of the Award to Mike Corrigan, with the Carus Team.

John Bertell, Anders Rundberg and Jose Rodríguez during the ceremony.

Mike Corrigan CEO of Interferry.

The Hon Mr Jose Luis Abalos, Spanish Minister of Transports.

Alejandro Aznar President of ANAVE.

Anders Rundberg -Founder & CEO of Carus, Mike Corrigan CEO of Interferry, Shari Corrigan Director of Interferry, John Bertell Sales Director of Carus, and Jose Rodriguez -Carus Spain & Iberia Representative.

Ceremony of Carus Excellence Award 2018 to Mr. Antonio Armas Fernández – President of the Naviera Armas Group (Las Palmas – Spain), during the Spanish Shipowners’ Association (ANAVE) General Assembly -Hotel Wellington Madrid, June 13, 2018

D. Antonio Armas (Las Palmas - Spain)

Carus Excellence Award 208
To D. Antonio Armas Fernández -President of the Naviera Armas Group,
for his Excellency in a lifetime of dedication to the Spanish maritime sector,
and its decisive contribution to the maritime transport of passengers and cargo.

D. Antonio Armas and Anders Rundberg CEO of Carus.

Anders Rundberg -Founder & CEO of Carus, Jose Rodriguez -Spain & Iberia Representative, and John Bertell -Carus Sales Director.

Ceremony of Carus Excellence Award 2017 to Mr. Luis Miguel Sousa – Founder & President of the Sousa Group (Madeira – Portugal), during the Spanish Shipowners’ Association (ANAVE) General Assembly -Hotel Ritz Madrid, June 22, 2017

Mr. Luis Miguel Sousa (Madeira - Portugal)

Carus Excellence Award 2017
To Mr. Luis Miguel Sousa -President of the Sousa Group,
for his Excellence in the dedication to the Transportation industry,
and his decisive contribution to the Maritime sector in the Atlantic.

John Bertell with Mr. Luis Miguel Sousa and Jose Rodríguez, during the Carus Excellence Award 2017 Ceremony.

John Bertell -Sales Director of Carus, Mr. Luis Miguel Sousa -CEO of Sousa Group, Mr. Alejandro Aznar -President of ANAVE, and Jose Rodriguez.

Ceremony of Carus Excellence Award 2016 to Mr. Emanuele Grimaldi – CEO of the Grimaldi Group, during the Spanish Shipowners’ Association (ANAVE) General Assembly -Hotel Ritz Madrid, June 29, 2016

Mr. Emanuele Grimaldi (Napoli - Italy)

Carus Excellence Award 2016
To Mr. Emanuele Grimaldi CEO of the Grimaldi Group,
for his Excellence in the dedication to the transport industry,
and his decisive contribution to the growth of the maritime sector in Europe.

Anders Rundberg -CEO of Carus, Jose Rodríguez –Carus Spain Representative, and John Bertell -Sales Director EMEA of Carus, during the Carus Excellence Award 2016 Ceremony.

John Bertell with Mario Massarotti -CEO Grimaldi Spain, who receives the award on behalf of Emanuele Grimaldi, with Anders Rundberg, and Jose Rodríguez

Jose Rodriguez, Ms. Ana Pastor Spanish Ministress for Civil Works and Transport, Anders Rundberg Carus Founder & CEO.

Ceremony of Carus Excellence Award 2015 to Mr. Vicente Boluda Fos – Chairman Boluda Corporación Marítima, during the Spanish Shipowners’ Association (ANAVE) General Assembly -Hotel Ritz Madrid, June 25, 2015

Mr. Vicente Boluda Fos (Valencia - Spain, 1955)

Carus Award for Excellence on his dedication to the maritime sector.

Mr. Vicente Boluda, CEO and majority shareholder of Boluda Corporación Marítima, is a Doctor of Law -Complutense University of Madrid and graduated in Law Sciences, with several masters in maritime law. He has come to have the large fleet of ships in Europe controlled by a single entrepreneur, the second tugs fleet in the world and the third fleet of sea rescue of the continent with an annual turnover of around € 500 Mio euros.

President of the Valencian Business Association
President of the National Association of Shipowners of Towboats
President of the Valencian Shipping Association.
Special Trade Commission Chairman -ANAVE.
Vicepresident Compañía Marítima del Pacífico, S.A.
Vicepresident Corporación Marítima Mejicana, S.A.
Vicepresident Servicios Marítimos de Baja California, S.A.

Among others, Mr. Vicente Boluda Fos has been honored and awarded with the Naval Merit Cross, the Grand Collar Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, Knight of Justice of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, Knight Corpus Christi in Toledo, Cavaller Jurat of San Vicente Ferrer, Caballero de Yuste, Catalonian Nobility Grand Collar, Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, and the Grand Collar Emperor Felipe II.

John Bertell – Carus Sales Director delivers the Award to Mr. Vicente Boluda Fos – Chairman Boluda Corporación Marítima and Carus Excellence Award 2015

Jose Rodríguez –Carus Spain Representative, with Mr. Vicente Boluda Fos – Chairman Boluda Corporación Marítima and Carus Excellence Award 2015

The 2014 edition of the Carus Excellence Award went to Mr. Rafael Rodríguez Valero -CEO Spanish Merchant Marine.

Mr. Rafael Rodríguez Valero (Gijón - Spain, 1948)

Carus Award for Excellence on his dedication to the maritime sector.
CEO of Spanish Merchant Marine.
Doctor of Civil Navy, graduated from the Merchant Navy in Naval Engineering from the University of La Coruna.
Master in Business Law and Maritime and Port Management from the UPC.
Professor Engines, Materials Science and Nautica, at the University of La Coruna.
Inspector Lloyd’s Register of Shipping.

Anders Rundberg CEO Carus delivers the Carus Excellence Award 2013 to Mr. Rafael Rodríguez Valero,
CEO Spanish Merchant Marine -Hotel Ritz Madrid.

The 2013 edition of the Carus Excellence Award went to Mr. Adolfo Utor -President of ANAVE, and Chairman of Balearia Group.

Mr. Adolfo Utor (Alhucemas -Spanish Protectorate, 1961)

Carus Award for Excellence on his dedication to the maritime sector. 
Executive President Balearia Group. President of ANAVE (2009-2015). President of Consejo del Mar -CEOE.

Anders Rundberg CEO Carus delivers the Carus Excellence Award 2013 to Mr. Adolfo Utor,
President of ANAVE (2009-2015), and Executive President Balearia Group -Hotel Ritz Madrid.

The 2012 edition of the Carus Excellence Award went to Mr. Juan Riva -President of ECSA, and Chairman of Suardiaz Group.

Mr. Juan Riva Francos (Madrid - Spain)

Carus Award for Excellence on his dedication to the maritime sector.
President of Flota Suardiaz, CEO of Suardiaz Group of companies, President of the European Shipowners’ Association (ECSA), and ANAVE Chairman (2003-2008).

Anders Rundberg CEO of Carus delivers the Carus Excellence Award 2012 to Mr. Juan Riva,
President of ECSA, and Suardiaz Group -Hotel Ritz Madrid.