Seafarers from a wide variety of maritime sectors will be honoured by the International Maritime Organization. The seafarers will be recognised for their astonishing acts of bravery, selflessness, and dedication to duty in saving lives and protecting the marine environment during emergencies around the world.
The following list of awarded seafarers are organised by the name of the country that nominated them. Lee Tae-Young (South Korea) who will receive this year’s International Maritime Organization’s Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea at a ceremony to be held toward the end of the year.
Certificates of Commendation
The IMO Council has authorised Certificates of Commendation to be issued:
Canada: The crew of the Rescue 901 helicopter of 103 Squadron, Gander, NL&L, Royal Canadian Air Force. They rescued 20 crew members from a disabled cargo vessel. The helicopter was skillfully piloted through turbulence and 55-knot winds, while the ship bucked and rocked violently in waves over five metres high. Despite the lethal cold, dangerously slippery ice, and a shattered bridge, the rescue team hoisted the ship’s crew to safety.
Greece: The crew of the tug Aigaion Pelagos, for their “exceptional bravery, exemplary seamanship, and resource management skills” in the salvage of the vessel Sounion. The captain and crew averted an environmental catastrophe by salvaging a ship that had been attacked with missiles by Red Sea terrorists—leading to vessel abandonment, explosions, and fires—risking their own lives in the process. The salvors boarded the vessel “under extreme heat and hazardous conditions,” extinguished the fires, ensured the crude oil cargo remained stable, and prevented an environmental disaster.
Japan: Members of the Special Rescue Team of the Japanese Coast Guard carried out a highly hazardous rescue by diving into a floating, capsized tugboat without hesitation and without waiting for safety measures, in poor conditions, to rescue a crew member just before the tug actually sank. “This rescue operation was extremely difficult and carried out at great personal risk to the members of the Special Rescue Team,” the IMO stated.
United States: Aviation Survival Technician Michael Diglio, a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer, deployed into the sea from a helicopter, battling rough currents and torrential rain during a tropical storm to reach survivors from a disabled sailing vessel. “After securing the first survivor amid towering waves and 50-knot winds, he signaled for the hoist while keeping the mariner stable during the ascent. He repeated this rescue process for the second survivor,” the IMO stated.
Letters of Commendation
The IMO Council has authorised Letters of Commendation to be issued:
Bangladesh: The crew of the Bangladesh Coast Guard tug Promotto, who demonstrated courage and determination during a fire-fighting operation on a crude oil tanker, thereby averting significant marine environmental damage.
Brazil: The crew of the offshore supply vessel Maersk Leader, for rescuing 20 members of the tug Bram Force, which caught fire off the coast near Rio de Janeiro in early 2025. The crew of the Maersk Leader conducted the rescue during low visibility and 20-metre swells.
Bulgaria: The crew of the Eleen Armonia, for rescuing 34 crew members from the burning vessel Hasil Abadi 28, which was not visible on radar and was at risk of exploding.
China: Li Wenxia, a crew member of rescue helicopter B-7312, who showed “exceptional resolve” in rescuing a fisherman clinging to the remaining part of a mast above water on a sinking fishing vessel.
China: The crew of the Amoy Century, who responded “without hesitation” to a distress call from a vessel on fire—likely due to cargo issues—rescuing 22 crew members and three security guards.
China: The crew of the hopper dredger Jun Yang 1, who saved seven crew members from a life-threatening situation and prevented a serious environmental incident by towing a powerless vessel away from a reef.
China: The crew of the Luo Tong 7002, who rescued 17 members of a drifting crane ship in complete darkness, 4–5 metre waves, and during a typhoon.
China: The crew of the Xin An Ning, who rescued three people adrift at sea without food or water.
Georgia: The crew of the oil/chemical tanker Owl 5, for demonstrating exceptional seafaring skills by manoeuvring in rough seas and darkness to evacuate a critically ill civilian.
Germany: The members of the Towing Assistance Team at the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, who showed great resolve in towing the powerless vessel Eventin, thereby preventing it from grounding and causing major environmental damage due to the 100,000 tonnes of crude oil onboard.
Panama: The crew of the Maersk Yukon, who displayed vigilance and skill in rescuing two fishermen during harsh weather conditions.
Philippines: The crew of the search and rescue vessel BRP Melchora Aquino, Philippine Coast Guard, who showed leadership and courage by rescuing 16 crew members from a vessel sinking during a typhoon and for preventing a fuel spill of 1.4 million litres.
South Korea: Captains Park and Im, for coordinating the night-time rescue of 10 fishermen from a capsized vessel during large waves and strong winds.
South Korea: The crew of the vessel New Angel, for saving the lives of 11 passengers—some of whom were adrift in the sea—from the half-sunken, flooded, and grounded vessel Fighting.
Türkiye: The crew of the T Caroline, who courageously saved two people from a sinking yacht in rough seas when helicopter and tug assistance was deemed unfeasible.
Türkiye: The crew of the tug Kurtarma 5, who prevented a collision by skillfully pushing the drifting vessel Bunun Ace away from shore, thereby avoiding a disaster.
United States: The crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter CG-6048, who carried out a high-risk night-time rescue beyond operational limits, in complete darkness and challenging circumstances, to save an unresponsive mariner.
