The 2024 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea has been presented to two nominees: the Captain and crew of the oil tanker Marlin Luanda, for containing a fire after the ship was struck by a Houthi missile in the Red Sea, and the Captain and crew of the tugboat Pemex Maya, for their rescue of shipwrecked people from four vessels during a hurricane.
The Marshall Islands nominated Captain Avhilash Rawat and the crew of Marlin Luanda for the award for their “extraordinary courage, determination and endurance” while coordinating firefighting and damage control efforts on the vessel.
Houthi rebels fired an anti-ship ballistic missile at the Marshall Islands-flagged, Marlin Luanda while it was sailing in the Gulf of Aden, transporting 84,147 tonnes of Russian naphtha to South Korea on the evening of 26 January. The missile hit the vessel, destroying the starboard lifeboat and sparked a fire aboard.
Captain Rawat gathered his crew at the port lifeboat station while the ship’s fire-fighting team battled the blaze with foam monitors and hoses. Once the foam supplies were depleted and after the fire had spread further, the crew continued to fight the fire with just seawater.
Four and a half hours later, the tanker Achilles arrived to assist, ahead of the French frigate FS Alsace, the US Navy destroyer USS Carney and the Indian Navy's INS Visakhapatnam. The four vessels provided the crew with more foam to fight the fire, which was continuing to reignite.
Expert consultants advised Rawat to abandon ship but he and his crew remained on board to save the vessel. The turning point came when trained marine firefighters from the INS Visakhapatnam boarded to assist fighting the fire.
As a result of the firefighters’ efforts, the vessel survived the incident and managed to safely transit, under naval escort, to a port of refuge 24 hours after the strike.
Rawat was at the IMO award ceremony in London on Monday to receive the award.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank my entire crew for their exceptional courage, professionalism, and unwavering dedication. Your support and trust were invaluable during those critical hours and, together, we overcame challenges that seemed insurmountable.”
He also thanked the naval crews who assisted and the ship’s owners.
“Finally, to all the brave seafarers navigating the high seas, your commitment, courage, and resilience inspire not only those of us aboard but also those who rely on the sea for their livelihoods. As we sail through both calm and stormy waters, let us remember that it is our unity, skill, and determination that strengthen us and keep us committed to the work we do.”
Multiple rescue operations
Captain Jorge Fernando Galaviz Fuentes and the crew of the tugboat Pemex Maya were nominated by Mexico for their outstanding courage, seamanship skills and resolve displayed in the rescue of six shipwrecked persons from four different vessels, in extreme weather and heavy seas during a hurricane.
On 25 October 2023, hurricane Otis struck Mexico's Pacific coast as an unprecedented category five storm. It intensified from a tropical storm to a major hurricane in just a few hours, hitting Acapulco with winds exceeding 300 kph and waves over five metres high.
As the hurricane approached, the crew of the tugboat Pemex Maya, led by Captain Galaviz, prepared for the storm by securing their vessel in the Bay of Santa Lucia. However, extreme conditions prompted the crew to navigate away from the coast to assist others in distress.
At 2.30am they navigated towards light signals from three people in lifejackets fighting the turbulent waters and managed to rescue them carrying out complex rescue manoeuvres in darkness.
Shortly after, they rescued another survivor, who was found clinging to a piece of wood without a lifejacket. A further two shipwrecked persons were spotted an hour later adrift with lifejackets. The crew had to execute again risky manoeuvres to rescue them with the help of lifebuoys.
All six survivors were found to be in shock, exhausted, and suffering from bruises and scratches but did not sustain life-threatening injuries.
Captain Jorge Fernando Galaviz Fuentes, who attended the ceremony, said: "In those moments of uncertainty, our strength did not come only from preparation but from a shared commitment: to safeguard lives, even at the risk of our own.
"United as a maritime community, we are capable of overcoming any storm.”
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez commended the recipients for their bravery.
“It is truly an honour to have this opportunity to recognize the valiant efforts and dedication of these heroic individuals, who took it upon themselves to act in the face of extreme danger at sea to save lives. Their bravery is an inspiration for all of us.”
