Posted:
November 19, 2015
The officers and crew members of two ships manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers were among those recognized during the 2015 Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) awards dinner on November 13 in a ceremony that honored the 33 crew members of El Faro, who lost their lives when the ship sank in Hurricane Joaquin on October 1.
The officers and crew of the USNS Impeccable, operated for Military Sealift Command by Crowley Liner Services (Technical Management), were recognized by the United Seamen's Service with a Mariners' Plaque for rescuing 11 fishermen clinging to a sinking vessel in the South China Sea in July 2015. Third Mate Garrick Skubon accepted the Mariners' Plaque on behalf of the officers and crew of the USNS Impeccable.
The officers and crew of the Cape Wrath, operated by Crowley Liner Services in the Maritime Administration's Ready Reserve Force, were recognized with a Mariners' Plaque for their service in late 2014 during the U.S. mission to combat the spread of Ebola in West Africa. Captain Fred Walley accepted the AOTOS Mariners' Plaque on behalf of the officers and crew of the Cape Wrath.
Receiving AOTOS awards for 2015 were TOTE President and CEO Anthony Chiarello, Matson President and CEO Matthew Cox and Pacific Maritime Association President and CEO James McKenna.
Chiarello accepted the AOTOS award on behalf of the crew members of El Faro and their families.
"I can't accept this award as Anthony Chiarello, but I can accept this award in memory of the 33 that were lost and the family and loved ones that were left behind," Chiarello told the gathering of leading figures of the U.S. maritime industry. "I'm honored and humbled to accept this award on behalf of those that were lost on the El Faro on October 1."
At the close of the evening, USS presented a special remembrance in honor of the 28 American crew members of the El Faro and five Polish nationals who perished at sea on October 1.
The remembrance was led by Chiarello, who dedicated the AOTOS award he received to the 33 heroes.
"This is a year wherein I am personally unable to accept such a singular honor. Each of us here at this maritime industry gathering will appreciate the gravity and the impact that the loss of the El Faro and her officers and her crew had on TOTE Maritime," Chiarello said.
"Within the firm, each of us has shared the anguish and the grief thrust so unmercifully upon the families and friends of those who were lost. Our hearts are torn bearing witness to their suffering," he said.
"This year, with the leave of the United Seamen's Service and by the leave of those of you here with me this evening, I'd ask that we put aside any honor meant expressly for myself, and that we honor instead the valiant men and women that comprised the officers and the crew of the El Faro. This evening, they deserve the AOTOS award far more than I do," Chiarello said.
Chiarello was then joined on stage by AMO National President Paul Doell and Seafarers International Union President Michael Sacco. Doell read the names of the 11 AMO members onboard El Faro and Sacco read the names of the 17 SIU members onboard the ship. Chiarello read the names of the five members of the riding crew.
Following the reading of the names, the more than 700 people in attendance stood and sang "God Bless America."
Chiarello said the AOTOS Award will be placed in the office of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico inscribed with the names of the 33 crew members of El Faro.
For the 2015 AOTOS Awards, U.S. Senator Cory Booker served as general chairman. Sacco was dinner chairman. Joseph Cox and President and Chairman of American Maritime Officers Service F. Anthony Naccarato served as national committee co-chairmen.
Proceeds from the AOTOS event benefit USS community services abroad for the U.S. merchant marine, seafarers of all nations, and U.S. government and military overseas.
USS continues to provide community services for the U.S. merchant marine, the American Armed Forces, and seafarers of the world. USS, a non-profit agency established in 1942, operates centers in six foreign ports in Europe, Asia, and Africa and in the Indian Ocean, and also provides seagoing libraries to American vessels through its affiliate, the American Merchant Marine Library Association.
Edward Morgan is president and Roger Korner is executive director of USS. Barbara Spector Yeninas is USS AOTOS coordinator.
USNS Impeccable, Cape Wrath receive Mariners' Plaques in AOTOS ceremony honoring crew of El Faro
The officers and crew members of two ships manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers were among those recognized during the 2015 Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) awards dinner on November 13 in a ceremony that honored the 33 crew members of El Faro, who lost their lives when the ship sank in Hurricane Joaquin on October 1.
The officers and crew of the USNS Impeccable, operated for Military Sealift Command by Crowley Liner Services (Technical Management), were recognized by the United Seamen's Service with a Mariners' Plaque for rescuing 11 fishermen clinging to a sinking vessel in the South China Sea in July 2015. Third Mate Garrick Skubon accepted the Mariners' Plaque on behalf of the officers and crew of the USNS Impeccable.
The officers and crew of the Cape Wrath, operated by Crowley Liner Services in the Maritime Administration's Ready Reserve Force, were recognized with a Mariners' Plaque for their service in late 2014 during the U.S. mission to combat the spread of Ebola in West Africa. Captain Fred Walley accepted the AOTOS Mariners' Plaque on behalf of the officers and crew of the Cape Wrath.
Receiving AOTOS awards for 2015 were TOTE President and CEO Anthony Chiarello, Matson President and CEO Matthew Cox and Pacific Maritime Association President and CEO James McKenna.
Chiarello accepted the AOTOS award on behalf of the crew members of El Faro and their families.
"I can't accept this award as Anthony Chiarello, but I can accept this award in memory of the 33 that were lost and the family and loved ones that were left behind," Chiarello told the gathering of leading figures of the U.S. maritime industry. "I'm honored and humbled to accept this award on behalf of those that were lost on the El Faro on October 1."
At the close of the evening, USS presented a special remembrance in honor of the 28 American crew members of the El Faro and five Polish nationals who perished at sea on October 1.
The remembrance was led by Chiarello, who dedicated the AOTOS award he received to the 33 heroes.
"This is a year wherein I am personally unable to accept such a singular honor. Each of us here at this maritime industry gathering will appreciate the gravity and the impact that the loss of the El Faro and her officers and her crew had on TOTE Maritime," Chiarello said.
"Within the firm, each of us has shared the anguish and the grief thrust so unmercifully upon the families and friends of those who were lost. Our hearts are torn bearing witness to their suffering," he said.
"This year, with the leave of the United Seamen's Service and by the leave of those of you here with me this evening, I'd ask that we put aside any honor meant expressly for myself, and that we honor instead the valiant men and women that comprised the officers and the crew of the El Faro. This evening, they deserve the AOTOS award far more than I do," Chiarello said.
Chiarello was then joined on stage by AMO National President Paul Doell and Seafarers International Union President Michael Sacco. Doell read the names of the 11 AMO members onboard El Faro and Sacco read the names of the 17 SIU members onboard the ship. Chiarello read the names of the five members of the riding crew.
Following the reading of the names, the more than 700 people in attendance stood and sang "God Bless America."
Chiarello said the AOTOS Award will be placed in the office of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico inscribed with the names of the 33 crew members of El Faro.
For the 2015 AOTOS Awards, U.S. Senator Cory Booker served as general chairman. Sacco was dinner chairman. Joseph Cox and President and Chairman of American Maritime Officers Service F. Anthony Naccarato served as national committee co-chairmen.
Proceeds from the AOTOS event benefit USS community services abroad for the U.S. merchant marine, seafarers of all nations, and U.S. government and military overseas.
USS continues to provide community services for the U.S. merchant marine, the American Armed Forces, and seafarers of the world. USS, a non-profit agency established in 1942, operates centers in six foreign ports in Europe, Asia, and Africa and in the Indian Ocean, and also provides seagoing libraries to American vessels through its affiliate, the American Merchant Marine Library Association.
Edward Morgan is president and Roger Korner is executive director of USS. Barbara Spector Yeninas is USS AOTOS coordinator.