AMO Currents - Officers, crew of <i>M/V Ocean Titan</i> receive Top Honor from Chamber of Shipping of America for rescue at sea

AMO Currents - Posted: June 26, 2012

Officers, crew of M/V Ocean Titan receive Top Honor from Chamber of Shipping of America for rescue at sea

Captain Christopher Hill accepts the Safety Achievement Award Top Honor from the Chamber of Shipping of America on behalf of the officers and crew of the M/V Ocean Titan, aboard which AMO represents all licensed officers. Presenting the award is Rear Adm. Kevin Cook, U.S. Coast Guard.

The officers and crew of the M/V Ocean Titan were among the Safety Achievement Award recipients to earn Top Honor from the Chamber of Shipping of America during the organization's annual Safety Awards Luncheon, held June 12, 2012, in New Orleans, La.

On Dec. 9, 2011, the Ocean Titan conducted a heroic rescue at sea, saving the lives of all seven crew members of the bulk carrier M/V Florece. The tanker M/V Afrodite had collided with the M/V Florece at about 3:30 a.m. that morning in the Bay of Biscay.

American Maritime Officers member Captain Christopher Hill, master on the M/V Ocean Titan, commented: "I thanked the Chamber of Shipping for recognizing the heroism of the seamen on board the Ocean Titan who performed the high seas rescue. A large, heavy and elegant plaque was presented by USCG Rear Admiral Cook and Chamber of Shipping of America President Joseph J. Cox, which lists the names of each crewman who was assigned to the Titan during the rescue. The following statement is printed below that list of names: "We commend the entire crew of the M/V Ocean Titan for your extraordinary courage and superior seamanship in the rescue and recovery of seven crewmembers of the M/V Florece in the Atlantic Ocean just before it sank in extremely rough seas after it collided with the M/V Afrodite. The actions of the entire crew, in the most challenging circumstances, were as a testament to each crewmember's character and skill. Your actions exemplify the courage and skills inherent in the professional mariner. This citation testifies to actions in keeping with the highest tradition of the sea - aid to those in peril.'"

AMO officers sailing with Captain Hill aboard the Ocean Titan during the rescue included Chief Mate Thomas Lisante, Second Mate Daniel Landgrebe, Third Mate Zachary Gray, Chief Engineer John Vlahakis and First Assistant Engineer Sean Donovan.

The CSA noted the Ocean Titan of Heavylift Shipowning LLC "received Top Honor for the crew's extraordinary courage and superior seamanship" in the rescue operation. The Ocean Titan was one of two ships receiving Top Honor from the Chamber of Shipping of America for rescue operations that occurred in 2011.

Since 1959, the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) has sponsored the Safety Achievement Award program which recognizes outstanding feats of safety that contribute to saving a life, a ship or other property. This year's Safety Awards Luncheon marked the fifty-fourth anniversary of the program and was attended by more than 160 people representing more than 80 companies and organizations.