Captain Avhilash Rawat and his crew aboard the oil tanker 'Marlin Luanda' have been honoured with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 2024 Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. The award recognises their remarkable courage and resilience during a rescue mission in the Red Sea. They were commended for their efforts in managing firefighting and damage control operations following an attack by an anti-ship missile allegedly launched by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels earlier this year. The IMO announced their selection on July 10, highlighting their determination and endurance in facing challenging circumstances. 

Captain Brijesh Nambiar and the crew of the Indian Navy ship INS Visakhapatnam received a Letter of Commendation for their assistance provided to the oil tanker 'Marlin Luanda' during a critical incident. 

According to the citation, on the evening of January 26, 2024, the 'Marlin Luanda', carrying 84,147 tonnes of Naphtha from Suez to Incheon, was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile. This caused a cargo tank to catch fire, creating a significant hazard with flames exceeding 5 meters. 

Despite the extensive damage, Captain Avhilash Rawat promptly coordinated firefighting efforts, ensuring the safety of the crew and maintaining the ship's navigability amidst the chaos. Due to the destruction of the starboard lifeboat, the remaining crew gathered at the port lifeboat station, prepared for potential evacuation. 

Even after facing extreme danger and the ongoing risk of additional attacks, Rawat and his crew battled the fire using fixed foam monitors and portable hoses. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) highlights that the fire continued to spread, particularly affecting a nearby tank. However, the crew successfully contained it using seawater after exhausting their foam supplies. 

After grappling with the fire independently for four and a half hours, support arrived first from the merchant tanker Achilles, followed by the French frigate FS Alsace and the United States frigate USS Carney. These vessels provided additional firefighting foam and assistance. Shortly afterward, the Indian warship INS Visakhapatnam also arrived to lend support. 

Despite the Marlin Luanda crew's relentless efforts, the fire onboard reignited multiple times, keeping the situation critical. Expert consultations recommended abandoning the vessel due to the severity of the blaze. 

However, Captain Rawat and his crew persisted in their efforts. The decisive moment arrived when professionally trained firefighters from the Indian Navy boarded the ship. Equipped with superior firefighting gear, they were able to approach the fire more effectively. Their coordinated efforts, combined with those of the Marlin Luanda crew, ultimately succeeded in extinguishing the fire and repairing a major breach in the hull. This intervention marked a crucial turning point in bringing the emergency under control. 

"After the missile strike, the Marlin Luanda, accompanied by a naval escort, reached safety within twenty-four hours," stated the IMO. 

Captain Rawat and his crew were put forward for the award by the Marshall Islands. They, along with Captain Jorge Fernando Galaviz Fuentes and the crew of the tugboat Pemex Maya, nominated by Mexico, are set to receive their accolades at the annual ceremony hosted at IMO Headquarters in London on December 2, during the 109th session of the Maritime Security Committee. 

A total of 41 nominations were submitted from 15 member states and three non-governmental organisations with consultative status at IMO. The nominations underwent initial evaluation by an Assessment Panel, followed by consideration from a judging panel, which finalised the selection of honourees. 

The recommendations made by the Judging Panel have now been approved by the IMO Council, convening for its 132nd session in London this week. 

Image Source:  The Hitavada