The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator honors owners and operators who participate in rescues at sea, in keeping with one of the finest maritime traditions. In 2021, RMI-flagged vessels, their officers and crews, assisted in 21 rescues, which were recognized with a Certification of Commendation. An additional 13 RMI-flagged vessels, their officers and crews, were recognized with a Letter of Recognition for situations where their vessel diverted and remained on standby to assist in a rescue. Please view Certifications of Commendation and Letters of Recognition online here.
Certificates of Commendation
ARISTOFANIS, managed by Capital Ship Management Corp., was requested to divert course toward a possible vessel in distress, and spent two days successfully rescuing 152 individuals from a sinking wooden boat approximately 90 nautical miles (nm) west of Crete Island.
ARISTOFANIS engaged in rescue operations west of Crete Island.
ASPHALT SPLENDOR, managed by LSC SIA, observed individuals in the water and launched their rescue boat, on multiple occasions, to recover a total of ten distressed individuals from the water. The rescue took place in the Mediterranean Sea, approximately 30 nm from the Algerian coast.
ASPHALT SPLENDOR engaged in rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea.
AVRA.GR, managed by M/Maritime Corp., diverted course after receiving a message regarding a vessel in distress and commenced search and rescue operations in the Pacific Ocean. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) cutter NORTHLAND safely rescued three individuals from the distressed vessel and transferred them to AVRA.GR, which subsequently transferred the individuals to a Costa Rican Coast Guard vessel.
CAPE TAWEELAH, managed by New Century Overseas Management, Inc., observed a boat with individuals on board signaling for assistance. The Crew rescued 34 individuals, including three in critical condition. The Crew then transferred the individuals in critical condition to a search and rescue (SAR) helicopter for transport ashore. The rescue took place in the North Atlantic Ocean, 270 nm south of Gran Canaria Island.
CHEMBULK BARCELONA, managed by Thome Ship Management PTE Ltd, observed a disabled vessel with individuals on board and eight distressed individuals in the water. CHEMBULK BARCELONA rescued the individuals in the water and remained with the disabled vessel for several hours until all individuals were safely transferred to a Maltese Naval vessel. The rescue took place in the Mediterranean Sea.
DAKOTA STRENGTH, managed by Atlas Maritime Shipmanagement Ltd., observed a small raft with two distressed individuals on board. The Crew threw two life rings with lines to the distressed individuals, who were safely brought aboard. The rescue took place in the Gulf of Mexico, 100 nm off the Yucatan Peninsula.
DEPENDABLE, managed by Transoceanic Cable Ship Company LLC, diverted course to assist a severely damaged vessel with one individual on board. DEPENDABLE maneuvered alongside the disabled vessel and the individual was safely brought aboard. The rescue took place in the Pacific Ocean about 400 nm off the coast of Mexico.
DEPENDABLE engaged in rescue operations in the Pacific Ocean.
ECO JOSHUA PARK, managed by Central Mare Inc., was notified of a distressed sailing vessel with one person on board. Shortly after ECO JOSHUA PARK’s arrival, the distressed vessel began to sink. The sole individual and his dog abandoned ship to their dingy and were subsequently brought aboard ECO JOSHUA PARK. The rescue took place while underway in the Atlantic Ocean, en route to Amsterdam.
ELAN VITAL, managed by Product Shipping & Trading S.A., received a mayday call from a bulk carrier reporting that the ship was sinking and in need of urgent assistance. ELAN VITAL arrived at the reported position in the Indian Ocean and observed a ship capsized amid a field of debris. A life raft was spotted, and ELAN VITAL maneuvered to rescue four individuals. Another individual was rescued from the water while swimming to the ship. A rescue aircraft spotted five additional individuals in a life raft and directed ELAN VITAL to their location, where they were subsequently rescued.
HARRISON, managed by Conbulk Shipmanagement Corporation, was in the Mediterranean Sea and received a message of a nearby disabled sailing vessel. HARRISON attempted to approach the sailing vessel but was unsuccessful due to heavy weather. Establishing radio contact, they were informed there were more than 60 people on board and there was heavy damage to the mast. HARRISON took the vessel in tow and, after two hours, the sailing vessel started to flood. The Crew of HARRISON took the individuals on board via the side ladders. Sixty-three individuals were safely brought on board the ship and shortly there after transferred to the Hellenic Coast Guard vessel off Kriti Island.
MAERSK PENGUIN, managed by Maersk Tankers A/S, was anchored in the Gulf of Mexico and spotted a small boat in the distance. As the vessel drifted closer, Crew members observed one distressed individual in the water, who was wearing a life jacket and swimming towards the ship, and two individuals aboard the distressed boat. The Crew rescued the individual from the water and both individuals aboard the distressed boat. A fourth individual was later spotted in the water and brought safely aboard the rescue boat.
MAERSK PENGUIN engaged in rescue operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
MAGNOLIA EXPRESS, managed by Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., received an INMARSAT-C request from Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Halifax to divert course and assist a disabled vessel, which was adrift after engine failure with three individuals on board. MAGNOLIA EXPRESS located and maneuvered alongside the disabled vessel, rescuing all three individuals. The rescue took place in the Atlantic Ocean, en route to Linden, New Jersey, United States.
NORTHERN OCEAN, managed by Product Shipping & Trading S.A., received a distress message from the Master of a sailing vessel indicating the vessel had lost its mast due to bad weather and had run out of fuel. NORTHERN OCEAN diverted course, spotted the sailing vessel one hour later, and then maneuvered alongside. The Crew passed two messenger lines to the sailing vessel and the individual on board was safely transferred to NORTHERN OCEAN. The rescue took place in the Atlantic Ocean, about 100 nm northeast of Bermuda, en route to Freeport, Bahamas.
NORTHERN OCEAN’S rescue operations near Bermuda.
RACHEL BORCHARD, managed by Kopping Reederei GmbH & Co. Kg, received a Mayday from a yacht that had lost propulsion and was taking on water, with 32 individuals on board. RACHEL BORCHARD diverted course to the reported position and commenced rescue operations. All 32 individuals were safely transferred on board. The rescue took place 105 nm from Proti, Greece.
RIG ANDROMEDA, managed by Uksnøy & Co. AS, ANDROMEDA was underway in Fernao Veloso Bay off Mozambique. Its Crew spotted a distressed individual clinging to the top of an overturned canoe. RIG ANDROMEDA maneuvered to approach the canoe while the Crew prepared the fast rescue craft. The Crew subsequently rescued the individual and took the canoe in tow.
SEAMAX DARIEN, managed by Fleet Ship Management Pte. Ltd., arrived at a rendezvous location for a supply vessel after clearing the Suez Canal. Adverse weather conditions prevented the successful transfer of supplies and the supply vessel cast off to return to port. One hour later, the supply vessel called for assistance and the Crew of SEAMAX DARIEN observed the supply vessel list to its port side and capsize. SEAMAX DARIEN immediately commenced rescue operations and sent an emergency broadcast requesting assistance from other vessels in the area. The crew deployed life rafts but were unable to maneuver them close enough to three distressed individuals in the water due to gale force winds and heavy swells. SEAMAX DARIEN observed the individuals swimming toward the vessel and lowered the port side gangway, while launching another life raft. The three distressed individuals grabbed hold of the life raft momentarily before losing hold due to conditions. The SEAMAX DARIEN, a rescue tug and another vessel searched for the distressed individuals into the night but were unable to rescue any distressed individuals.
STI BRIXTON, managed by Zenith Gemi Isletmeciligi A.S., was underway, approximately 50 nm south of Key West, Florida, when the Crew observed two distressed individuals on a homemade boat waving their arms in distress. STI BRIXTON rescued both individuals.
STI MERAUX, managed by Scorpio Marine Management (India) Private Limited, was in the Mediterranean Sea when they were requested to divert to assist a distressed sailing vessel. STI MERAUX located the sailing vessel south of Kirti Island, Greece. The Crew were informed that the engine was disabled and they were in need of assistance. A nearby tankship provided a lee to the sailing vessel, allowing STI MERAUX to bring 34 individuals on board.
STI MERAUX engaged in the rescue of 34 individuals.
THOR, managed by Primerose Shipping Co. Ltd, received a request to change course and proceed to assist a fishing boat in distress. The Crew observed a half-submerged fishing vessel with five distressed individuals on board. THOR maneuvered alongside the fishing vessel and rescued all five individuals. The rescue took place approximately 43 nm from southern Spain in the North Atlantic Ocean.
UGUR DADAYLI, managed by Dadaylilar Denizcilik Nakliyat San. Ve Tic. Ltd. Sti., was underway in the Mediterranean Sea when they were contacted to render assistance to a small vessel that had run out of fuel. Several hours later, the distressed vessel was spotted by the Crew, who observed a large number of distressed individuals onboard. UGUR DADAYLI was informed that the vessel’s engine had failed, the boat had been taking on water, and was sinking. The Crew of UGUR DADAYLI safely rescued all the individuals from the disabled vessel.
VELOS FORTUNA, managed by Executive Ship Management PTE Ltd., was underway in the Caribbean Sea when notified of a small sailing vessel reportedly disabled approximately 10 nm from its position. VELOS FORTUNA approached the vessel and established communication with its Crew, who confirmed there were two individuals on board and the engines were overheating. VELOS FORTUNA maneuvered alongside and was informed that the sailing vessel’s crew was repairing the engines and that they only required food and water, which was provided. VELOS FORTUNA began to pull away and, several minutes later, was advised that the vessel’s engines were again overheating, and the vessel was in need of a tow. VELOS FORTUNA towed the vessel until a Haitian Coast Guard vessel took over the tow of the distressed sailing vessel to port.
VELOS FORTUNA engaged in rescue operations off the coast of Haiti.
Letters of Recognition
Thirteen RMI-flagged vessels, their officers and crew, were recognized with a Letter of Recognition for situations where their vessel diverted and remained on standby to assist in a rescue.
AFIF was underway in the Ionian Sea when it was designated as the On-scene Coordinator and assisted in the rescue of 100 distressed individuals with rescue craft.
CELSIUS LONDON was underway in the Atlantic Ocean about 65 nm from the Canary Islands when it participated in the rescue of approximately 40 distressed individuals from a rubber boat with a Spanish Naval patrol vessel.
FAIRCHEM CHARGER was underway in the Atlantic Ocean when it participated in the search for a small wooden boat, which was located and confirmed to be abandoned.
LADY ALARA assisted a Greek Coast Guard rescue vessel in the rescue of distressed individuals on a small boat while transiting the Aegean Sea en route to the Dardanelles Strait.
LENI P. assisted a Libyan Coast Guard rescue vessel, which rescued 12 distressed individuals on board a rubber boat approximately 59 nm from Benghazi.
MIKELA P. was underway in the Mediterranean Sea, en route to Trieste, Italy, and diverted course to assist with a reported distressed vessel with a large number of individuals on board. Upon arrival at the reported position, the Crew observed a rescue vessel already on scene and was requested to drift until the rescue was complete.
SAN ANTONIO’s Crew observed a rubber boat floating approximately 35 nm off the coast of Morocco with 20-25 individuals on board waving objects and making hand signals to get the attention of the Crew. SAN ANTONIO coordinated a rescue with a Spanish Naval patrol vessel, which rescued the individuals upon arrival.
SASEBO ECO was underway in the Ionian Sea when it located and assisted distressed individuals aboard a rubber raft until they could be safely rescued by a Hellenic Coast Guard rescue vessel.
STAR OSPREY successfully participated in the rescue of distressed individuals in a small boat with a Royal Moroccan Naval vessel while in the Mediterranean Sea.
STAR ZETA assisted a small sailing vessel in the Mediterranean Sea that had run out of fuel until a Spanish Naval patrol vessel could arrive several hours later and transfer the individuals.
STI PRESTIGE assisted a rescue aircraft in locating a wooden boat carrying approximately 40 distressed individuals in the Atlantic Ocean who were then rescued by a Spanish Naval patrol vessel.
STI SANCTITY assisted a Spanish Naval patrol vessel with the rescue of individuals from a small boat approximately 120 nm off the coast of Morocco.
TWINKLE STAR successfully assisted a Royal Moroccan Naval vessel with the rescue of 30 distressed individuals in a rubber boat while in the Mediterranean Sea.
