DAME Design Awards - Revolving portlight/porthole earns top honours

by Sail-World Cruising on 16 Nov 2011 Overall Winner of the DAME Design Award 2011, just announced at the Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) in Amsterdam, is the Italian-produced Revolving Portlight of S.C.M. (Stampaggio Costruzioni Meccaniche).

The Jury felt that the Revolving Portlight from S.C.M. delivered an outstanding combination of inspired practicality, delightful aesthetics and first-class engineering.

The window frame of the Revolving Portlight opens and closes along the same plane as its fixed frame, eliminating the inherent problem in traditional portlight design - intrusion into the cabin space.

A single rotation pin allows the window frame to be easily swung and safely secured at any position up to 110° to the left or right of its closing station.

The Jury believes that this exceptional design-led innovation will offer new and welcome options for designers looking to maximise internal volume, most notably in relation to curtain positioning, as well as for boat owners who will undoubtedly benefit from the Revolving Portlight’s ability to provide highly flexible ventilation management.

Last year's winner of the same award was the Swedish-made Seldén Reversible Winch of Seldén Mast AB.

This year's Category Winners are:

Marine electronics:
iAIS from Digital Yacht

Clothing and crew accessories:
Ballistic Eco Pants from Harken Sport

Interior equipment, furnishings, materials and electricial fittings:
Revolving Portlight from S.C.M. (Stampaggio Costruzioni Meccaniche)

Life saving and safety equipment:
Deckvest LITE from Spinlock Ltd.

Marine equipment, boatyard equipment and boat construction tools and materials:
Sentinel One Star from Forniture Nautiche Italiane

Machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electricial systems and fittings:
Stabilis Electra 18BR-2X from CMC Marine

Deck equipment,sails and rigging:
Constrictor from Cousin Trestec

Marine related software:
TimeZero Trident from MaxSea / MapMedia / Nobeltec

The DAME Jury inspected 133 entries from 21 countries and then nominated 43 products to advance to the second round of judging. Only products that make it to the second round were considered for the DAME Award.

In determining the winners in eight categories, as well as the Overall Winner, the Jury took into account a number of factors, including design, styling, quality of construction, overall impact on the marine industry, suitability for its intended purpose, level of innovation, cost effectiveness, and favourable environmental impact. Those products that made it to the final round and came close to winning have received a Special Mention in their categories.

Last year's category winners were:

Marine electronics:
ZS RopeSense
Spinlock Ltd. – United Kingdom

Interior equipment, furnishings, materials and electrical fittings used in cabins:
BARIGO STEEL MEL
BARIGO Barometerfabrik GmbH – Germany

Deck equipment, sails, and rigging: (and overall winner)
Seldén Reversible Winch
Seldén Mast AB – Sweden

Life saving and safety equipment:
Jet-trak
Global Marine Tracking Systems S.L. (Seetrac) – Spain

Machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electrical systems and fittings:
Panda 45 i PMS generator
Fischer Panda GmbH – Germany

Marine related software:
Marine: Mediterranean HD
NAVIONICS S.p.a. – Italy

General Criteria:
When making any assessment under the DAME rules the most important aspect, central to the final judgement, is design in its fullest context — the degree to which the overall styling, construction, functionality (the capability of the product in relation to its intended use) and level of innovation are seen as equally balanced features of the entry. Originality, use and ease of human operation are also taken into account, as well as other considerations such as the ratio of price to performance.

DAME participants support Sailing Kids to 20,000 Euro:
All participating companies paid a non-refundable registration fee per product entered to support a worthy charity.

This year Sailing Kids Foundation received a cheque for 19,950 Euros.

Sailing Kids arranges six-day trips aboard a vintage clipper on the IJsselmeer and Waddenzee. In addition to offering optional on-board activities and full catering, they provide a fully qualified volunteer medical team to care for the seriously or chronically ill children on board. More information about Stichting Sailing Kids.