Dr. Anil Sharma Receives Malta Maritime Award for Contribution to Sustainable Maritime Operations

Founder of GMS and Lila Global recognised for more than three decades of work in shipowning, responsible ship recycling and sustainable vessel lifecycle management

Dr. Anil Sharma, Founder and CEO of GMS and Founder of Lila Global, has received the Malta Maritime Award for Contribution to Sustainable Maritime, Logistics & Resource Operations, presented during the opening reception of the 10th anniversary Malta Maritime Summit in Malta.

The award was presented by H.E. Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and accepted on Dr. Sharma's behalf by Prof. Andreas Merikas.

The award recognises Dr. Sharma's contributions to the international maritime industry over more than three decades, including ship ownership and operations, maritime asset transactions, responsible ship recycling, worker safety and environmental standards.

Commenting on the recognition, John A. Gauci-Maistre K.M., Chairman of GM Group and Founder of the Malta Maritime Awards, said:

"Dr Sharma’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to sustainable maritime and resource operations have set a benchmark for our industry. This recognition at the MMA 2026 is a well-deserved testament to his groundbreaking work in building resilient, forward-thinking logistics ecosystems that harmonise commercial efficiency with environmental stewardship."

Dr. Sharma founded GMS in Maryland, United States, in 1992. The company has since grown to become the world's largest buyer of ships and offshore assets for recycling, completing more than 5,000 vessel and offshore asset transactions worldwide.

GMS was the first cash buyer in the ship recycling sector to achieve ISO certification and has worked for many years to improve safety, environmental and compliance standards in the ship recycling industry.

Dr. Sharma later expanded into ship ownership and operations through Lila Global, the Dubai-based shipping company he founded. Today, Lila Global owns and operates a diversified fleet of more than 45 vessels, including tankers, bulk carriers and container vessels trading internationally.

Alongside his shipowning activities, Dr. Sharma has focused on improving standards when vessels reach the end of their operational lives. This led to the establishment of the Sustainable Ship and Offshore Recycling Program (SSORP), an LRQA-verified programme supporting safe, environmentally responsible and transparent ship recycling.

Using 281 health, safety and environmental (HSE) data points, SSORP monitors performance throughout the recycling process. The programme also provides tools to measure the environmental impact of recycling, including the carbon footprint associated with individual vessels.

GMS and SSORP have also provided free training in safe and environmentally responsible ship recycling practices to more than 14,000 workers across the Indian subcontinent.

More recently, Dr. Sharma's work has also extended to addressing the challenge of sanctioned vessels. In 2026, GMS became the first entity to receive specific licences from the United States Government to acquire and recycle sanctioned vessels. His pioneering effort also addresses a growing environmental concern by providing a responsible recycling solution for ageing sanctioned vessels that might otherwise remain idle, deteriorate and pose risks of marine pollution.

The Malta Maritime Award adds to Dr. Sharma's record of industry recognition, including 16 consecutive years in Lloyd's List's annual ranking of the 100 most influential people in global shipping.
 

Media Contact
Nayeem Noor
bd@gmsinc.net