MOSCOW, February 27 (RIA Novosti) - The world's leading daily shipping newspaper Lloyd's List named the head of a major Russian shipping company Newsmaker of the Year at an annual gala award ceremony in London on Thursday evening, the company's press service said in a news release Monday.

Sergei Frank, the chief executive and president of Sovkomflot, was nominated for his progressive leadership of the company, combined with an open approach to the press.

Lloyd's List editor Julian Bray said that during the past year, Sovkomflot had shown impressive growth and achieved tangible success in its development, attaining the status of a major player on the global fuel transportation market. Considering the company's ambitious plans, Sovkomflot will undoubtedly maintain its leadership in the sector, he added.

Frank said the bulk of news from Sovkomflot in 2005 related to major industrial projects in the energy sector, particularly in Russia.

Receiving the award, the company president thanked all of Sovkomflot's customers, represented by leading Russian and international energy companies, such as Gazprom, Shell, Exxon, ConocoPhillips and LUKoil, as well as the crews and officers of the group's tankers, for their support and trust.

"This award is truly a great honor," he added.

Sovkomflot is one of Russia's largest ship operators, with a fleet of 50 vessels, whose deadweight capacity totals some 4 million metric tons. The company's sales preliminarily exceeded $410 million in 2005. It is 100% state-owned.