JOURNALIST Nick Bryant, who covers the US for the BBC, has been named as host of the 2018 Lloyd’s List Americas Awards in Houston.

Mr Bryant, who is the corporation’s New York and United Nations correspondent, has worked in Washington, South Asia and Sydney. He has reported from Afghanistan, Kashmir, Gaza, Sri Lanka, Iran and Rwanda. 

He is the author of two books, The Bystander: John F Kennedy and the Struggle for Black Equality, and Confessions from Correspondentland. 

He hosted the Americas Awards in 2016 held in New York.

The expanded event returns to Houston this year, with five new categories to reflect changing challenges for the shipping industry.

The Best Fuel Solution and Best Technology for Cleaner Emissions accolades and the Cyber Security Innovation Award are among five new categories.

There will be a new Cruise Safety Innovation award in recognition of the vanguard role the cruise sector plays in general maritime safety and the importance of the industry in the Americas. 

The May 23 event will follow Informa KNect365’s Gas Shipping North America conference. 

Entries close on February 16.

The full list of categories for the Americas Awards is available here