Holly is the editor of Dockwalk. She grew up racing sailboats in England before switching to the world of superyachts and moving across the pond to Fort Lauderdale.
The winners of Seahub’s third Engineering Grant competition, announced earlier this month, highlight exceptional talent and dedication in the yachting industry. The 2024 winners are Lara Li Allasia of S/Y Fidelis, Matthew Ireland of M/Y Lance, and Becky Chen of Landing Craft Runnymede.
“Our ultimate winner was Lara. She was nominated by multiple people from different programs. That said to us that she made an impact wherever she went and consistently showed up and excelled at what she did. She was extremely deserving,” said Seahub Commercial Director Sam Wheaton.
Matthew Ireland, the second-place recipient, was nominated by his deckhand. “He has been mentoring one of his deckhands. His deckhand relayed to us his appreciation for Matt's patience and supportive approach to training him in basic engineering principles,” Wheaton shared.
Third place was awarded to Becky Chen, whose nomination came from Val McCourt, a long-time MPT teacher. “Becky is in the early days of her career and we felt she could benefit from the mentorship and financial support on offer. She has taken on the responsibility of implementing a PMS onboard and has proven to be a very technical and capable engineer in the making,” Wheaton explained.
This year’s grant saw its largest prize pool to date, totalling $6,000, thanks to a new collaboration with Hill Maritime Group (HMG), a placement company specializing in engineering roles. HMG’s involvement allowed Seahub to double its financial awards and introduce a placement service for junior engineers. Plans are already underway to expand next year’s prize pool.
The grant also marked a milestone with more female engineers nominated than ever before. “It was great to see a larger number of female nominees. It shows how the industry is evolving and opening up more opportunities for women,” Wheaton added.