Our Bureau
London
An Indian ship captain, Avhilash Rawat and his crew have been honored with the International Maritime Organization, IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea for their courageous actions during a rescue mission in the Red Sea. They have been awarded for their determination in coordinating firefighting and damage control efforts after a missile hit their vessel ‘Marlin Luanda’ earlier this year.
Rawat and his team bravely battled the fire, utilizing fixed foam monitors and portable hoses, despite the high risk and ongoing danger of additional attacks. The fire kept spreading, causing notable damage to a nearby tank, yet the team successfully restricted it by utilizing seawater once they ran out of foam.
Following four and a half hours of battling the fire independently, help came from the merchant tanker Achilles, as well as the French frigate FS Alsace and the United States frigate USS Carney, offering extra firefighting foam and assistance. Shortly after, the Indian warship INS Visakhapatnam also arrived. Even with the continuous efforts of the Marlin Luanda crew, the fire kept rekindling many times. The situation continued to be serious, and specialist advice recommended leaving the ship.
Nevertheless, Captain Rawat and his team persevered. The critical moment occurred when the ship was boarded by professionally trained firefighters from the Indian Navy. Due to their better gear, they were able to approach the fire more closely, and with the help of the Marlin Luanda crew, they eventually put out the fire and sealed a major hole in the hull. The IMO noted, “Twenty-four hours after the missile strike, the Marlin Luanda sailed to safety under naval escort.”
The Marshall Islands nominated Captain Rawat and his crew for the award. Captain Brijesh Nambiar and the crew of INS Visakhapatnam from the Indian Navy were awarded a Letter of Commendation for assisting the distressed oil tanker. The awards are set to be presented during the yearly event at the IMO Headquarters in London on December 2.
