Mara Kruze has been named the recipient of the British Tugowners Association (BTA) Tug Trainee of the Year Award 2026, announced at the BTA Annual Conference on 7 May. Mara was presented with the award by UK Chamber of Shipping President Karrie Trauth and Captain Neil Atkinson MNM MSc CMMar FNI, Head of Fleetwood Nautical Campus.
Mara, an Officer of the Watch (<500GT Near Coastal) apprentice at Svitzer, stood out among the nominees for her exceptional fortitude and all-round achievement against the judging criteria.
Beyond her own performance, Mara showed admirable leadership qualities, including offering support and mentorship to her peers and proactively seeking out additional responsibilities.
Mara is an exceptional role model, and her consistent outreach and advocacy on behalf of the towage sector have shown her to be one of its strongest ambassadors.
BTA award panel citation:
Mara Kruze is a truly outstanding trainee whose resilience, determination and excellence set her apart.
Despite significant personal adversity and completing her training in a second language, she has consistently achieved exceptional academic and professional results. Widely praised by crews for her attitude and capability, Mara goes above and beyond expectations, actively supporting peers and promoting the towage industry through ambassadorial work.
Her perseverance, leadership and commitment make her an outstanding role model and a thoroughly deserving recipient of the British Tugowners Association Tug Trainee of the Year Award 2026.
Mara Kruze said:
Being named Tug Trainee of the Year 2026 is a real honour. My apprenticeship has pushed me to aim high, but I did not expect this recognition, for which I am very grateful.
I have been incredibly lucky to be accepted for this apprenticeship and to meet and work with some incredible people. I am proud to represent the towage sector, and I hope this award encourages others to see careers in shipping, and particularly towage, as something worth pursuing.
Jason Clifford, Head of Training (Europe) at Svitzer, who nominated Mara, said:
Mara’s performance throughout her apprenticeship is commendable; she has an unwavering ability to overcome any barrier or obstacle she encounters, always doing so with professionalism and positivity. She is a superb ambassador for our industry and I look forward to seeing where her career takes her.
About the Tug Trainee of the Year Award: This award celebrates trainees and candidates working in the UK towage sector who have shown dedication and a positive attitude towards their learning and career development.
Through academic or professional excellence, determination and resilience, or by overcoming personal difficulty or adversity, winners stand as a testament to the strength and professionalism of the towage industry.
Towage is critically important to the UK’s prosperity. Trainees, whether pursuing a long-term career in the small vessel sector or continuing their certification progression, deserve recognition for their efforts.
The BTA is sincerely grateful to Sanmar Shipyards for its generosity in providing multi-year sponsorship of this award.
