Maritime Leadership

Shipping Arabia, October 15, 2026 – Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies (JAMS) has received two major honors at the ShipTek International Awards Dubai 2026, recognizing the institution’s achievements in maritime education and training and the leadership of its President, Professor Mustafa A. Massad, Ph.D.

JAMS was named Best Maritime Education & Training Institute for the second consecutive time, marking its third recognition at the ShipTek Awards. In a separate honor, Professor Massad received the Distinguished Leadership in Maritime Education award for his longstanding contributions to maritime transport, education and training at regional and international levels.

The dual recognition highlights the academy’s continued focus on quality and institutional development, alongside the contributions of its leadership to the wider maritime sector.

JAMS Recognized for Maritime Education and Training Excellence

The Best Maritime Education & Training Institute award marks another achievement for Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies, which has now received the distinction for two consecutive editions and earned three recognitions from ShipTek.

According to JAMS, the latest award reflects its continued commitment to maintaining educational and training quality while pursuing institutional development.

The academy also emphasized the importance of cooperation with its partners and stakeholders, acknowledging their trust and support as contributing factors to its continued progress.

JAMS expressed appreciation for these partnerships and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining cooperation in pursuit of further shared achievements.

Professor Mustafa A. Massad, Ph.D., Receives Distinguished Leadership Award

In addition to the academy’s institutional recognition, Professor Mustafa A. Massad, Ph.D., President of JAMS, was honored with the Distinguished Leadership in Maritime Education award at the same ceremony.

The award recognizes his extensive leadership experience and longstanding contributions to the development of maritime transport, education and training across the Arab region and internationally.

This latest distinction adds to Professor Massad’s previous international recognitions, including two Lifetime Achievement awards presented by ShipTek and The Maritime Standard.

Together, these honors acknowledge his sustained contributions to maritime education and the broader maritime industry, as well as his leadership in advancing the academy’s institutional development.

The recognition also reflects the importance of experienced leadership in supporting the continued development of maritime education and training institutions.

Dual Recognition Highlights Institutional and Leadership Achievements

The two ShipTek International Awards recognize both Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies as an institution and Professor Massad individually, bringing together achievements in maritime education, training and leadership.

In its announcements, JAMS expressed appreciation to its partners and stakeholders for their continued confidence and cooperation. The academy emphasized their role in supporting its achievements and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining these relationships.

Together, the two awards mark another significant milestone for JAMS, recognizing both its continued achievements in maritime education and training and Professor Massad’s longstanding leadership and contributions to the maritime industry at regional and international levels.

Source: Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies (JAMS)

Shipping Arabia, October 12, 2026 – QTerminals has appointed Adnan El Yacoubi as Managing Director of Hamad Port in Qatar, bringing more than 17 years of international experience in port operations, terminal management and operational leadership across major maritime markets.

The appointment, announced by QTerminals on October 1, places El Yacoubi at the helm of Hamad Port as the company prepares for its next phase of development. His professional background spans senior operational and executive positions across Belgium, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco and the Netherlands.

Extensive International Experience in Port Operations

El Yacoubi joins QTerminals following his tenure as Chief Operations Officer at Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) in Jordan, where he served from July 2024 to September 2026.

Before joining ACT, he was Head of Operations at Malaysia’s Port of Tanjung Pelepas from April 2021 to July 2024. In that position, he oversaw terminal operations and managed a workforce of more than 4,000 employees at one of the world’s largest container terminals.

His earlier career included several senior operational and planning positions within APM Terminals. He served as Head of Shared Planning Center, supporting terminal planning activities across international locations, including Africa and Europe.

El Yacoubi also held the position of Head of Terminal Operations Planning at APM Terminals MedPort Tangier in Morocco between 2017 and 2020. His responsibilities included establishing operational planning functions, implementing terminal operating systems and developing planning procedures.

Additionally, he served as Yard Manager at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II in the Netherlands and previously held terminal planning management positions in Morocco and the Netherlands.

These assignments provided him with extensive experience in container terminal operations, operational planning, workforce management and performance improvement across different international markets.

Leading Hamad Port’s Next Phase of Development

As Managing Director, El Yacoubi will lead the overall management and operations of Hamad Port, with a focus on operational performance, service quality and business growth.

In its announcement, QTerminals highlighted his international leadership experience, operational expertise and commitment to continuous improvement as key strengths supporting his appointment.

The company expressed confidence in his ability to guide Hamad Port through its next phase of growth and development, building on his experience managing major port operations and leading operational teams across international maritime markets.

Source: QTerminals