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Officer Lee Tae-Young to receive the 2025 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea; 22 nominees commended.

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?The award recognizes individuals worldwide who risk their lives with exceptional bravery and skill to save others at sea or protect the marine environment.

Officer Lee Tae-Young of the Republic of Korea has been selected to receive this year’s IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea, in recognition of his heroic actions in saving 12 fellow crew members when the fishing vessel 135 Geumseongho sank in November 2024. 

This was endorsed by the IMO Council during its 134th session held in London this week (7 – 11 July). 

A total of 60 nominations were submitted by 24 Member States and one non-governmental organization. An Assessment Panel, chaired by the IMO Secretary-General, conducted the initial review. The nominations were then evaluated by a Panel of Judges, chaired by the Chair of the IMO Council, whose recommendations were submitted to the Council for endorsement. 

Mr. Lee, who was nominated by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), will be presented with the Award during an official ceremony in London later this year. 

In addition, the Council endorsed four recipients for certificates of commendation, and 18 individuals and groups to receive letters of commendation. (Full list below) 

A “profound inspiration” for seafarers? 

Mr. Lee was recognized for his extraordinary leadership, courage and selflessness displayed during an incident last year off the coast of Biyangdo, Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea.  

In the early hours of 8 November 2024, the fishing vessel 135 Guemseongho suddenly listed and capsized, with only the propeller remaining above water. Some crew members managed to hang on to the propeller while others were being swept away by strong currents and waves.  

Mr. Lee, with no prior search and rescue (SAR) training and at immense risk to his own life, immediately took action to rescue the 12 crew members desperately holding on to the vessel's propeller. He threw two life rings and helped them climb up the ladder of the rescue boat. He was the last to board the rescue boat.  

In a statement nominating Mr. Lee, ITF stated: “Lee Tae-young is a brave seafarer who risked his own life to save his colleagues. Honouring his sacrifice and dedication will go beyond the mere act of awarding a prize and it serves as a profound inspiration to all seafarers.” 

The extreme pressure Mr. Lee suffered during the incident had an enormous impact on his health. Despite the challenges, he is working to overcome the experience and has continued to convey hope and courage to his colleagues. 

Certificates of Commendation? 

The Council agreed to award certificates of commendation to:  

  • The Captain and crew of the Rescue 901 helicopter of the 103 Squadron, Gander NL&L, Royal Canadian Airforce, nominated by Canada for their courage, tenacity and technical skill displayed during the rescue of the 20 crew members of the 207-meter-long disabled cargo vessel MBC Baltic III. The helicopter required hand flying due to turbulence from persistent and extreme aircraft altitude, while the vessel violently rocked amidst 18-foot waves and 40-55 knots of wind. Though the ship’s deck grew dangerously slippery due to ice and the bridge in complete disarray with scattered debris, the rescue team successfully managed to hoist the whole crew to safety.?  
  • Captain Flouris Dimitrios and the crew of the tug supply vessel Aigaion Pelagos, nominated by Greece, for their exceptional bravery, exemplary seamanship and resource management skills in the salvage operation of the M/T Sounion. The Captain and crew successfully averted the catastrophic environmental disaster under adverse safety and security conditions, risking their own lives. The vessel was sailing in the Red Sea carrying about 150,000 metric tons of heavy crude oil and nearly 3,000 metric tons of fuel/bunkers on board, when it was struck by three uncrewed aerial devices and lost engine power. After the crew evacuated, several explosions and fires dispersed on the main deck, causing extensive damage to the vessel. The crew carried out an extensive salvation operation, boarding the abandoned vessel under extreme heat and hazardous conditions, managing to extinguish all the fires and ensure the cargo was stationary. The actions of the Aigaion Pelagos Captain and crew were crucial in preventing an environmental disaster.?  
  • The Members of the Special Rescue Team of the Japanese Coast Guard, nominated by Japan, for their courage and determination during the rescue of the remaining survivor of the Japanese tugboat Shouei-Maru that caught fire and capsized due to a collision with a cargo ship while towing a barge. Divers from the Kobe Coast Guard Office found and rescued the captain of the boat, who unfortunately passed away at the hospital. The Special Rescue Team later arrived at the site of the incident and struck the tugboat with a hammer to check for survivors. When they heard hammering back, the Team dived into the upturned tugboat without hesitation, risking their lives by entering without waiting for safety measures in poor conditions. After half an hour, the crew member was found and brough to safety just before the boat sank. This rescue operation was extremely difficult and carried out at great personal risk to the members of the Special Rescue Team who took part in it to save a life.?  
  • Aviation Survival Technician Second Class (AST2) Micheal Diglio, Coast Guard rescue swimmer at the Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater of the United States Coast Guard, nominated by the United States, for his brave and decisive actions during the rescue of two mariners stranded aboard the disabled sailing vessel Venture amidst the extreme conditions of the tropical storm Debby. After seeing a distress flair in the darkening sky, AST2 Diglio had to rely on the helicopter's senses instead of visual cues during the search. Once the vessel was located, he deployed into the sea under time pressure due to the limited fuel reserves, battling rough currents and torrential rain to intercept the survivors. After securing the first survivor amid towering waves and 50-knot winds, he signaled for the hoist whilst keeping the mariner stable during the ascent. He repeated this for this rescue process for the second survivor. AST2 Diglio displayed selflessness and courageous leadership whilst executing a life-threatening rescue operation.? 

Letters of Commendation? 

Letters of Commendation will be sent to:? 

  • Lieutenant Md. Shoiful Alam and the crew of the Bangladesh Coast Guard Tug Promotto, nominated by Bangladesh, for demonstrating courage and determination during a fire-fighting operation on the crude oil tanker Banglar Sourabh, successfully averting an oil spill and preventing significant marine environmental damage in poor weather conditions.? 
  • The Master and the crew of the M/V Maersk Leader, nominated by Brazil, for bravely rescuing all 20 crew members of the?Bram Force, which has caught fire during a night operation with low visibility and a 2.5-meter swell. The crew completed six round trips between vessels to bring them to safety.? 
  • Captain Todor Ivanov Todorov and the crew of the M/V Eleen Armonia, nominated by Bulgaria, for courageously rescuing 34 crew members from the burning vessel Hasil Abadi 28, which was not visible on radar, battling the fire at great risk of explosion.? 
  • Captain Xu Jiamin, Master of the M/V Luo Tong 7002, nominated by China, for leading a successful rescue of all 17 crew members from the drifting crane ship Yu Hang Qi Zhong 28 during a typhoon, using expert ship-handling skills in complete darkness and 4–5-metre waves.? 
  • Mr. Li Wenxia, crew member of the of rescue helicopter B-7312, Beihai No.1 Rescue Flying Service, BeiHai Rescue Bureau, nominated by China, for showing exceptional resolve during the rescue of a fisherman who was holding onto the mast remaining above water of fishing vessel Jileyu 02163. ? 
  • Captain Qiang Li and the crew of the hopper dredger Jun Yang 1, nominated by China, who bravely towed the powerless Leo Empire away from a reef, preventing a fuel spill and saving all seven crew members from a life-threatening situation and serious environmental incident.? 
  • Captain Xiao Wei and the crew of the M/V Xin An Ning, nominated by China, for rescuing three people set adrift at sea after their pneumatic boat lost control and contact for five days without food or water.? 
  • Captain Zhao Guoqiang and the crew of the M/S Amoy Century, nominated by China, who responded without hesitation to a distress call and rescued by the M/V ASL Bauhinia, which was on fire with hazardous cargo and 22 crew members and three security guards aboard, despite the danger of the explosion.? 
  • Captain Kondrate Gvadzabia and the crew of the oil/chemical tanker Owl 5, nominated by Georgia, for demonstrating exceptional seamanship skills and professionalism by maneuvering in rough seas and darkness to evacuate a critically ill civilian for helicopter extraction.? 
  • Mr. Albert Buettner, Mr. Peter Pfeiffer, Mr. Alex Hempel and Mr. Rene Baudisch, the leader and the members of the Towing Assistance Team (TAT), Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME), nominated by Germany, for showing great resolve in towing the powerless M/T Eventin, preventing it from grounding and causing major environmental damages from the 100,000 tons of crude oil aboard.? 
  • Captain Soni Thomas and the crew of the INS Teg, Indian Navy, nominated by India, displayed outstanding bravery in rescuing nine survivors from the capsized tanker Prestige Falcon during strong winds and limited visibility, though one life was sadly lost.? 
  • Captain Sabinesh S. Vayath and the crew of the M/V Maersk Yukon, nominated by Panama, for their vigilance and skill in rescuing two fishermen adrift for four days after their boat’s engine broke down, maneuvering the vessel in harsh conditions to bring them to safety.? 
  • The crew members of the search and rescue vessel BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702), Philippine Coast Guard, nominated by the Philippines, demonstrated leadership and courage when rescuing 16 of 17 crew members from the sinking M/T Terranova during a typhoon, preventing a massive fuel spill of 1.4 million litres.? 
  • Captain Byungsuk Park, Master of the fishing vessel 999 Bumsung, and Captain Hyeongtaek Im, Master of the fishing vessel 621 Yeongsin, nominated by the Republic of Korea, coordinated the night rescue of 10 fishermen from the capsized 136 Danuri, in conditions of large waves and strong winds.? 
  • Captain Hyunwoo Park, Master of the fishing vessel New Angel, nominated by the Republic of Korea, for bravely rescuing 11 passengers, some of whom were drifting at sea with life jackets and close to hypothermic shock,?from the flooded and grounded vessel Fighting, rushing to the half sunken vessel to save lives.? 
  • Captain At?l Aycan Aksoy, Master of the tug vessel Kurtarma 5, nominated by Türkiye, who prevented a collision by skillfully pushing the drifting Bunun Ace away from shore and passing boats moored, avoiding disaster.? 
  • The crew members of the M/T T. Caroline, nominated by Türkiye, for courageously saving two people from the sinking sailing yacht Delfin and Deniz in rough seas, when helicopter and tug assistance was deemed unfeasible.? 
  • Lieutenant Robert Turns, Lieutenant Commander Joshua Womboldt,?AMT2 Eric Lamy and AST2 Hunter Joseph, crew members of helicopter CG- 6048, Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, United States Coast Guard, nominated by the United States, for carrying out a high-risk nighttime rescue beyond operational limits in complete darkness and challenging circumstances to save an unresponsive mariner from the Alaska Victory.? 

IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea? 

This annual Award was established by the IMO to provide international recognition for those who perform acts of exceptional bravery, displaying outstanding courage in attempting to save life at sea or in attempting to prevent damage to the marine environment. ? 

The annual awards ceremony will be held this year at IMO Headquarters in London in November 2025.