Johan and Britt-Marie Carpelan Receive Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at Boat Builder Awards 2025
Founders of Oy Botnia Marin Ab, Johan and Britt-Marie Carpelan, have been honoured with the Boat Builder Awards Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the marine industry’s most respected recognitions.
The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates individuals whose careers have made a lasting and influential impact on the international marine industry. Recipients are recognised for their entrepreneurship, innovation, and long-term leadership—values that have defined Botnia Marin throughout nearly five decades of boatbuilding.
The award was presented on Wednesday, 19 November 2025 in Amsterdam, during the annual Boat Builder Awards, co-organised by International Boat Industry (IBI) and Metstrade. Winners are selected by an international jury of industry experts and leading journalists.
“We built this together”
In his acceptance speech, Johan Carpelan expressed gratitude and pride:
“We are deeply moved, proud, and truly humbled to receive this award. Our industry is full of passionate and driven people, which makes this recognition even more meaningful.”
He highlighted the collective nature of the company’s success:
“Our journey has always been about teamwork—between colleagues, dealers, and customers. A special thank you goes to Britt-Marie, my partner in life and in our work. We built this together, and I am proud that we are receiving this award side by side.”
Previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award include some of the most influential names in modern boatbuilding, such as Robert M. Torgerson (Princess Yachts), Robert Braithwaite (Sunseeker), Annette Roux (Bénéteau Group) and Christoph Rassy (Hallberg-Rassy). Johan and Britt-Marie’s recognition places Botnia Marin among this distinguished group and highlights the significance of their contribution to Nordic boatbuilding.