Blue Water Games 2026 celebrates our people and supports charity

More than 1,500 colleagues across Blue Water’s offices came together for the fourth annual Blue Water Games, a company-wide event celebrating togetherness, teamwork and friendly competition, while also securing DKK 350,000 in charitable donations from the Blue Water Foundation.

Representatives from the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society & the Blue Water Games' winning team

In September, colleagues from across Blue Water’s global organisation took part in the fourth annual Blue Water Games.

The company-wide event combines local activities with a global competition, bringing colleagues together across offices, countries and time zones. Beyond the friendly competition, the Games give colleagues the opportunity to support charitable causes in their local communities through donations from the Blue Water Foundation.

The winning teams

Following a day of competition, Team EBJ17 from Blue Water’s headquarters in Esbjerg, Denmark, claimed the global Blue Water Games award. The winning team consisted of Lisiana Das, Kinga Both, Nermin Dedovic, Anna Hartvig Nielsen and Michael Kjær Schmidt, whose teamwork and determination secured their victory in ‘The Continental Quest’, an online escape challenge played worldwide.

‘The Continental Quest’ engages colleagues in friendly competition, regardless of location. The winning team across all offices is awarded the opportunity to donate DKK 250,000 to a charity of their choice.

In addition, the winner in this year’s host region, EMEA, secured a DKK 100,000 donation to a charitable cause. The regional award went to Team Sudbury & London, consisting of Brandon Weston, Chris Sorrell, Jon Harnden and Elsa Bowen.

The team chose to direct their donation to the Epilepsy Society in the UK, an organisation working to improve the lives of people with epilepsy through research, advocacy and care.

“By giving back to the communities we are part of, we make a difference together,” says Anne Skov, Chairman of the Blue Water Foundation.

DKK 250,000 for MS support

On 27 October, representatives from the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society visited Blue Water’s headquarters in Esbjerg to officially receive the DKK 250,000 donation, secured through Team EBJ17’s global victory.

Representatives from the Danish MS Society, Christian Bardenfleth, Dorte Reis, Klaus Høm & Michelle Buch Skagen, Assistant Finance at Blue Water Shipping

Ahead of the Games, colleagues in Esbjerg had voted for the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society (Scleroseforeningen) from among several nominated charities.

During the visit, Klaus Høm, CEO of the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society, shared insights into the organisation’s work, ongoing research and the challenges faced by people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).

“Our members know all too well what it means to live with MS. Thanks to the Blue Water Foundation’s donation, we can continue raising awareness of the condition and supporting people living with MS and their families. MS is often called the disease with a thousand faces, which makes sharing knowledge an essential part of our work.”

“It’s not every day we receive a phone call with news of a donation of this size, and we are grateful for Blue Water’s support,” says Klaus Høm.

A cause close to home

Since its introduction, Blue Water Games has become an annual opportunity for colleagues to connect across the global organisation. The combination of teamwork, friendly competition and charitable giving reflects an important part of Blue Water’s culture: bringing people together while contributing to the communities in which we operate.

For Michelle Buch Skagen, who works in Finance at Blue Water in Esbjerg, this year’s donation holds particular significance. Her husband, Søren, lives with multiple sclerosis, and Michelle previously served on the board of the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society’s local Esbjerg-Fanø branch.

Since the opportunity to nominate charities through the Blue Water Games was introduced, Michelle has consistently put forward the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society. Her colleagues have voted to support the organisation on several occasions. This year, the winning team’s efforts helped secure a DKK 250,000 donation from the Blue Water Foundation.

“I’m proud to be part of a company like Blue Water, where employees can nominate a charity, vote for a cause that means something to them and ultimately see such a significant donation go to an organisation that is very close to my heart,” Michelle says.

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