On April 23, 2025, at the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Annual Meeting held at the New York Yacht Club in New York City, Dr. James S. C. Chao, Founder and Chair of the Foremost Group, was honored with the prestigious Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award. In recognition of his decades of leadership, contributions to maritime safety, environmental stewardship, and service to global trade, Dr. Chao delivered the following acceptance remarks.
Acceptance Remarks by Dr. James S. C. Chao, Founder & Chair, Foremost Group
Recipient of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award
ABS Annual Meeting
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
New York Yacht Club, New York City
Chris, Board of ABS, friends: What an honor it is for me to be here with you to accept this Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of myself and the Foremost Group!
When I first started my career, I never could have imagined where I am today. My simple dream in life was to contribute to society and to be a good person.
ABS is known as one of the world’s leading classification societies. To be honored by ABS as the inaugural recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award is one of the highlights of my life. I am very humbled and it is beyond my dreams.
Being a former captain and seafarer myself, safety on the seas has personal relevance for me. I have sailed on ships for over a decade and I want my seafaring and onshore colleagues to emphasize safety and be safe.
Foremost has also always emphasized our responsibility to be stewards of the environment in the oceans.
In a constantly evolving industry with new emerging changing technology, ABS works alongside its partners to tackle the most pressing technical, operational and regulatory challenges so the marine industry can operate safely, securely and responsibly. We appreciate that.
I am grateful to my parents and my alma mater for shaping my abilities and values; I am also grateful to my family, especially my wife, Mrs. Ruth Mulan Chu Chao who is the foundation of our family; I also want to thank my colleagues, it is because of everyone’s diligence and teamwork that Foremost has achieved what it has today. I am even more grateful to the Lord, because it is the grace of the God that allows me to have everything I have today!
Foremost contributes to improving the overall welfare in the world – moving needed cargoes to feed countries, fuel economic growth and increase standards of living.
Society has given my beloved wife and me so much and thus it has always been our objective to give back to Society. This award is a great encouragement to Foremost and to me to continue to help make the world a better place through our continue adherence to our mottos: Honor. Integrity. Performance.
Thank you so much.