General Manager Fernand Suykens Prize for Port Studies

Text laid down by the Administrative Commission during its session of 18 March 1992 and modified during its sessions of 23 March, 28 September 1994, 30 March 2001 and 17 March 2005.

  1. On the occasion of the accession of Fernand Suykens, former President of the Academy, to the title of General Manager emeritus, the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences has established a Fund for Port Studies in order to promote studies on sea ports in developing countries.
  2. The Fund has been constituted by an initial capital resulting from donations to the Academy for this purpose. It will be increased by the interest which the capital will yield, and by further donations and legacies made to the Academy in order to enlarge the Fund.
  3. The Fund is managed by the Administrative Commission of the Academy under a specific accounts entry.

  4. The Fund has been established in order to award a prize named "General Manager Fernand Suykens Prize for Port Studies" to the author of a memoir of high scientific value, which is unpublished or has been published for less than three years, written in English, French or Dutch, on a subject related to port economy, management or techniques. Studies must necessarily focus on developing countries.

  5. The prize amounts to 2,500 EUR. It will be awarded every three years and for the first time in 1995. The Administrative Commission can modify the amount and the frequency of the prize.
  6. The memoirs must be submitted to the Academy secretariat in five copies before 1 February of the year the prize is awarded.
  7. The prize is awarded by the Section of Technical Sciences, on the proposal of an ad hoc committee.

    This committee consists of:

    1. The Permanent Secretary, who is in charge of the secretarial work;
    2. Two members appointed by the Section of Technical Sciences, among the fellows, honorary fellows, associates and honorary associates of the Academy, during its session held in the month of February following the submission of the memoirs;
    3. The General Manager of the Port of Antwerp;
    4. The professor or lecturer in charge of the course "Zeehavens" at the "Universitaire Faculteiten Sint-Ignatius" in Antwerp.
  8. The report of the ad hoc committee is transmitted to the Section of Technical Sciences before 1 June following the nomination of the above committee.
  9. The Section of Technical Sciences will nominate the winner during its June session. This nomination will result from a vote by a show of hands by the fellows, honorary fellows, associates and honorary associates present. To be appointed, the candidate must obtain an absolute majority. If no candidate obtains such a majority after three rounds, the prize will not be awarded and the amount intended for this award will remain part of the Fund.
  10. The author(s) of the prizewinning memoir will be conferred the title of "Winner of the General Manager Fernand Suykens Prize for Port Studies" of the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences.
  11. The Academy may consider publishing the prizewinning memoir if it has not been previously published.
  12. In case the Fund's assets are no longer sufficient to award a substantial prize, the Administrative Commission may decide to supplement the Fund with a sum taken from the Academy's own funds, to integrate the balance of the Fund in its general fund, or to merge the prize with another prize awarded by the Section of Technical Sciences.