The 10th Essar Shipping Search & Rescue (SAR) Award 2015 was presented jointly to Indian Coast Guard Ships, ICG ACV ‘H-194’, and Research Vessel ‘Sagar Manjusha’. The crew of another vessel, Fishing Boat ‘L. Aster’, received a cash award and a citation for their courageous act of rescue in extreme weather conditions. The awards were presented at the XIVth National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) commemoration ceremony held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on July 17, 2015.
Accidents at high sea have a huge risk of life as assistance is not easily available and communication can be difficult, or in many cases, practically impossible. Responding to the call of a distressed vessel on the high seas, is more than just upholding the highest traditions of seafaring; given the limited resources it takes courage, and selflessness from the crew to respond to a call for help.
Essar Search & Rescue (SAR) Awards
Every year since 2005, Essar Shipping (ESL) has been recognizing the courageous and selfless acts of the men and women of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) who perform the task of Search-and-Rescue along the Indian coast. This year there were two winners for the Essar Search & Rescue (SAR) Award 2015:
- ICG ACV (Hovercraft) H -194, which rescued a local fishing boat, ‘Navrang’, ferrying passengers from Nhava Sheva to Gharapuri, on the coast of Maharashtra, in Western India. The ICG vessel managed to save 78 lives in the rescue operation. Comdt. S. Safaya CO (commanding officer) of the vessel received the award.
- ICG Research Vessel ‘Sagar Manjusha’, for saving the lives of 12 fishermen on board Indian Fishing Boat ‘Kesavan’. The efforts of the crew in rescuing the distressed vessel despite very rough seas, was highly praise worthy. D Rajshekar, Scientist, Group Head Vessel Management Cell, accepted the award on behalf of the crew of the Research vessel.
Essar SAR Award for Fisherman
The crew of Fishing Boat L. Aster received a cash award and citation for their courageous act of rescue in extreme weather conditions, in an incident on the high seas, last year. Capt. Anoop Sharma, Director & CEO, ESL, presented the award to Shri Lourthaiyan and Shri Augustus, of MFB L Aster.
Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, AVSM, Directorate General, Indian Coast Guard, was the chief guest at the awards ceremony.
