Distinción de la OMI al valor excepcional en el mar

La OMI está aceptando actualmente candidaturas para actos de valor excepcionales realizados en el mar durante el periodo comprendido entre el 1 de marzo de 2021 y el 28 de febrero de 2022. Desde la modificación de las Directrices relativas a la Distinción en 2018, las candidaturas también pueden referirse a casos en los que se demuestre una competencia náutica extraordinaria o cualquier otra muestra de valor excepcional en el mar. El formulario de nominación puede ser presentado por cualquier Estado Miembro de la ONU, organización intergubernamental u organización internacional no gubernamental con carácter consultivo ante la OMI. Las presentaciones están abiertas hasta el 15 de abril de 2022.

Esta Distinción anual fue establecida por la Organización para rendir un homenaje internacional a las personas que, a riesgo de su propia vida, hubieran actuado con una valentía extraordinaria y demostrado un valor excepcional al tratar de rescatar a personas en el mar o prevenir o reducir los daños al medio marino. Tales actos de valor también pueden incluir casos en los que se demuestre una competencia náutica extraordinaria o cualquier otra muestra de valor excepcional.

Las candidaturas son examinadas por un Panel de evaluación compuesto por miembros de organizaciones no gubernamentales que gozan del carácter consultivo ante la OMI, bajo la presidencia del Secretario General. Posteriormente, se reúne un Panel de jueces (bajo la presidencia del Presidente del Consejo, con la participación de las presidencias del Comité de seguridad marítima, el Comité de protección del medio marino, el Comité jurídico, el el Comité de cooperación técnica y el Comité de facilitación) para examinar las recomendaciones del Panel de evaluación y para elegir a quién se concedería la distinción.

El ganador de la Distinción recibirá una medalla, que se entregará en la OMI junto con un certificado en el que se mencionará el acto de valor excepcional realizado.

Hay tres categorías de honor: en primer lugar, la Distinción, para el candidato que se considere que ha realizado el acto de valor más destacado de entre los descritos. En segundo lugar, se conceden accésits a los candidatos que han cometido actos de extraordinaria valentía. Y, en tercer lugar, se envían mención de honor a los candidatos que se considera que merecen algún reconocimiento especial por sus acciones meritorias.

El siguiente contenido está disponible solo en inglés:

Previous recipients of the Award

2021 Mr. Tran Van Khoi, Search and Rescue Officer of the Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center No.II, Viet Nam Maritime Administration, received the 2021 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. Video - Photos - Press Briefing
2020

Mr. Marcio Santos Teixeira and Mr. Fabio Rodrigues Alves de Abreu, members of the São Paulo Pilots from Brazil (left), and Petty Officer Second Class Ralph Ofalla Barajan of the Philippine Coast Guard (right), received the 2020 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. Video of the virtual awards ceremony - Press Briefing
2019 Petty Officer Michael Kelly, a rescue swimmer with the United States Coast Guard, received the 2019 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea Video - Photos - Press Briefing	2018 A rescue diver from China who made a series of underwater dives to rescue three people from a sunken cargo ship received the 2018 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery At Sea. Video - Programme - Photos - Press Briefing
2017 Two maritime pilots, Captain Michael G. McGee and Captain Michael C. Phillips, from Houston (United States), who defied fire to bring a burning ship to safety, averting a major maritime catastrophe, received the 2017 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. Video - Programme - Photos - Press Briefing	2016 Captain Radhika Menon, Master of the M/T Sampurna Swarajya, nominated by the Government of India, for her display of great determination and courage in rescuing seven fishermen from the sinking boat Durgamma. The fishermen had been given up for dead after being adrift for six days, in fierce rain, wind speed of 60 to 70 knots and 27-feet high waves. Video - Programme - Press Briefing
2015 The 2015 Award has been presented to Aviation Survival Technician Christopher Leon (United States), for risking his life to save four men from a sinking ocean-going rowing boat in a dramatic rescue in the dead of night in heavy seas in the Pacific Ocean. AST Leon was presented with the award at a special ceremony on Thursday 19 November 2015, when he was reunited with three of the men he rescued. Also on 19 November, certificates were presented to five sets of nominees (or their representatives). Photos - Programme - Details of nominations and acts of bravery - Speeches	2014 The 2014 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea was awarded to Captain Andreas Kristensen and his crew of the Britannia Seaways, who were nominated by Denmark for their courage and determination in fighting blasts and fire on board the vessel, at great risk and danger to themselves. Video.
2013 The 2013 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea was awarded to two rescue swimmers from the United States of America, for saving the lives of 14 crew members from the tall ship HMS Bounty, and, posthumously, to a seafarer from China who died trying to save the life of a ferry passenger.	2012 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea presented to Sergeant Janick Gilbert (posthumously), Master Corporal Max Lahaye Lemay and Master Corporal Marco Journeyman, crew members of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 424 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron, nominated by Canada, in recognition of the exceptional bravery which was displayed by them, in saving the lives of two Inuit hunters stranded in an open boat in icy waters near Igloolik, Nunavut, but which resulted, sadly, in the tragic loss of Sergeant Gilbert’s life; and Able Seaman César Flores, a rescue swimmer in the aerial detachment of the Chilean Navy, nominated by Chile, in recognition of the exceptional bravery which he displayed in rescuing seven survivors from the motor launch Rosita V, in Locos islet, Moraleda Channel, in extremely dangerous weather, and at considerable risk to his own life.
2011 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea presented to Captain Seog Hae-gyun of the Republic of Korea, Master of the chemical tanker Samho Jewelry. Captain Seog was nominated by the Government of the Republic of Korea for his heroic actions to keep his vessel and crew safe, while suffering vicious assaults, following a hijack by pirates off the coast of Somalia (Photos)	2010 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea presented to Mr. James Fanifau, who was, at the time, Fourth Engineer of the Singapore-flagged general cargo ship Scarlett Lucy, received the Award for his part in the dramatic rescue of two survivors, including Dr. Morgan, from the yacht Sumatra II, in May 2009, amid severe weather conditions in the Tasman Sea.
2009 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea presented to a professional rescue swimmer, Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Abram A. Heller, who, in Arctic conditions, single-handedly rescued eight crew members of a foundered vessel in the Bering Sea, and to two amateur sailors who rescued three people from a sunken yacht in very heavy weather off a remote South Pacific coral reef.	2008 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea presented to Brazilian seafarer Mr. Rodolpho Fonseca da Silva Rigueira, of the drill ship Noble Roger Eason for his heroic actions in saving fellow crew members from an explosive fire on a ship.
2007 Inaugural IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea presented to Second Officer Mustafa Topiwala of the oil/bulk ore carrier Searose G and Captain Zvonimir Ostric (who was on the vessel as onboard trainer at the time of the incident) for dramatic rescue of Teklivka crew.