Captain Rawat hails from Dehradun and is a Grasp Mariner with Suntech Ship Administration.
London:
Captain Avhilash Rawat has acquired the 2024 Worldwide Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Award for Distinctive Bravery at Sea for the “extraordinary braveness” proven in a Purple Sea rescue mission earlier this yr.
At an awards ceremony on the IMO headquarters in London on Monday night, Captain Rawat accepted the award on behalf of his crew of the oil tanker Marlin Luanda, who had been named winners in July of the celebrated maritime award.
The captain and crew had been lauded for the “dedication and endurance” they demonstrated whereas coordinating firefighting and injury management efforts to fight a fireplace that broke out after an anti-ship ballistic missile struck their vessel again in January. Alongside, Captain Brijesh Nambiar and the crew of the Indian Navy ship INS Visakhapatnam had been conferred a “Letter of Commendation” for the assist to Marlin Luanda when in misery.
“I need to take this chance to thank my whole crew for his or her distinctive braveness, professionalism, and unwavering dedication; your assist and belief had been invaluable throughout these important hours, and collectively, we overcame challenges that appeared insurmountable,” stated Captain Rawat in his acceptance tackle.
“On behalf of the Marlin Luanda crew, I’d additionally prefer to convey our honest due to the Indian, French and US Navies; your well timed intervention and steadfast dedication had been essential in guiding us by means of probably the most important moments of our firefighting efforts,” he stated.
Requested about safety issues within the Purple Sea, which has been the goal of Yemen’s Houthis, Captain Rawat famous that the state of affairs stays “tense”.
“I’d request that cease sending ships by means of the Purple Sea. My firm has already stopped after this incident,” stated Captain Rawat, who hails from Dehradun and is a Grasp Mariner with Suntech Ship Administration.
In a message for these contemplating a seafaring career, he added: “The life at sea has at all times been very profitable. It’s a superb career and kids ought to be inspired to affix at sea.
“It allows us to know totally different folks, international locations and cultures. It instils nice confidence and helps one survive in any state of affairs.” Captain Rawat and his crew had been nominated for the award by the Marshall Islands for his or her courageous efforts on the night of January 26, when the Marlin Luanda carrying 84,147 tons of Naphtha was struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile. The explosion ignited a cargo tank, creating a big fireplace hazard with flames exceeding 5 meters.
In line with the IMO panel’s evaluation, regardless of the intense hazard and the fixed risk of additional assaults, Captain Rawat and his crew fought the hearth utilizing mounted foam screens and transportable hoses.
After 4 and a half hours combating the hearth on their very own, help arrived from the service provider tanker Achilles and later from the French frigate FS Alsace and the USA frigate USS Carney, which supplied further firefighting foam and assist, adopted quickly after by the Indian warship INS Visakhapatnam.
The turning level got here when professionally skilled firefighters from the Indian Navy boarded the ship and managed to get nearer to the hearth because of their superior tools and their efforts, mixed with these of the Marlin Luanda crew, lastly succeeded in extinguishing the hearth and sealing a big hull breach.
“Twenty-four hours after the missile strike, the Marlin Luanda sailed to security below naval escort,” the IMO quotation notes.
The annual IMO honours are awarded to supply worldwide recognition for individuals who, on the threat of dropping their very own life, carry out acts of outstanding bravery, displaying excellent braveness in trying to avoid wasting life at sea or in trying to stop or mitigate injury to the marine surroundings.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
