Mercy Ships Cargo Day Houston Soirée Celebrates Impact and Community
Organised by the Cargo Day Houston Committee and hosted by Stena Bulk, Scorpio and Teekay, the Soirée served as a celebration of the U.S. results of Cargo Day 2025, an opportunity to thank long-standing partners, raise awareness of Mercy Ships’ mission, and officially kick-start fundraising efforts for Cargo Day 2026.
All photos by Mark Katz
An Evening of Inspiration and Gratitude
The evening opened with welcoming remarks from Doug Martin, Chairman of the Cargo Day Houston Committee and Shipbroker at Howe Robinson, who thanked the shipping community for the countless smiles their support brings to children and families across Africa.
He was followed by a series of inspiring speeches from leaders across the maritime sector, including Charlie Grey (Tankers International and Chairman of the Cargo Day London Committee), Captain Amandeep Singh Chadha (Scorpio), Jeremy Hall (Aramco Trading), Chris Salmonese (Poten & Partners), Andrea Olivi (Trafigura), and Dr. Ron Goode, Emeritus Member of the Mercy Ships International Board.
Together, they highlighted the power of collaboration and the shared commitment of the shipping community to make a lasting difference.
The Houston Cargo Day Committee is deeply encouraged by this year’s exceptional results. We have witnessed remarkable growth and increased engagement from the support of the industry and its generous people. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our principal sponsors, Scorpio, TK, and Stena, whose generous support made this event possible together with all those in attendance. Together, we’re making a meaningful difference in the lives of countless individuals across Africa and for that we thank one and all!Doug Martin Chairman Houston Cargo Day Committee
Fundraising That Makes an Impact
Led by charity auctioneer Kimberly Niezgoda, a lively auction featuring sports memorabilia, exclusive experiences and the iconic Global Mercy ship model raised over USD 100,000.
A particularly moving moment followed when Bryce Wagner delivered a heartfelt speech on hope, inviting guests to “raise their paddle for life-changing surgeries.” This appeal alone generated an additional USD210,000, underscoring the generosity and compassion of those in attendance
Recognising Excellence in the Shipping Community
The evening also celebrated outstanding contributions within the U.S. shipping sector. During the trophy ceremony, presented by Colin Gray of Teekay, the following awards were announced:
- U.S. Charterer of the Year: Vitol, received by Fernando Cuartas
- U.S. Broker of the Year: Lighthouse Chartering, received by Michael Loeffel
- U.S. Broker of the Year: True North, received by Edward Urquhart
Each recipient was presented with the traditional Stetson hat, now a hallmark of the Houston Soirée and a symbol of recognition within the US Cargo Day community.
Grateful to attend the Mercy Ships Cargo Day Houston Soirée and be part of supporting the incredible work they do for those in need. It was also really encouraging to see the Houston shipping community come together behind such a meaningful cause.Fernando Cuartas Vitol (Cargo Day 2025 Charterer of the year)
A Remarkable Result
The evening concluded with Oscar Webb of BRS announcing the final fundraising total: an impressive USD 600,000 raised in revenue at the Soirée.
The 2026 Houston Soirée once again demonstrated what is possible when the global shipping community comes together. Not only to celebrate success, but to help deliver hope, healing and access to healthcare for those who need it most.
Through our U.S. affiliate, ATMI, TotalEnergies is proud to continue supporting Mercy Ships and its mission to deliver free, life‑changing surgery and essential healthcare to the most underserved communities. As a company whose energy shipping activities connect people and resources across oceans every day, we recognize the unique power of logistics to open doors to care. Together with our closest shipping and chartering business partners, we are honored to help keep Mercy Ships’ hospital vessels on course so more patients can access the treatment they deserve.Jerome Cousin Senior Vice President Shipping, TotalEnergies
Supporting Life-Changing Healthcare
Mercy Ships supports developing nations striving to make healthcare accessible for all through the deployment of the world’s two largest civilian hospital ships, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy.
Over the past 30 years, Mercy Ships has completed 45 field services in 14 African countries, delivering life-changing surgeries and medical training. The 16,572-ton Africa Mercy, equipped with five operating rooms and 80 patient beds, and the 37,000-ton Global Mercy, featuring six operating rooms and 199 patient beds, have become powerful symbols of hope and healing.
More info available on: www.mercyshipscargoday.org
The Houston Soirée Gallery
