Officers, crew of M/V Norfolk receive CSA Citation of Merit for rescue of four sailors

Captain Noah Myrus accepts the Chamber of Shipping of America Citation of Merit on behalf of the officers and crew of the M/V Norfolk on June 5.

The officers and crew of the M/V Norfolk received a Citation of Merit from the Chamber of Shipping of America on June 5 for rescuing four sailors earlier this year.

The award was presented at the CSA's Annual Safety Awards Luncheon in New Orleans, La., at which the merchant mariners responsible for safe ship operations were publicly recognized.

The Norfolk is operated by Argent Marine and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.

More than 200 people, representing 74 companies and their subsidiaries, attended the annual event, at which 1,616 vessels with 10,501 cumulative years of accident free operation received awards.

Since 1958, the Chamber of Shipping of America has also sponsored the Safety Achievement Award program, which recognizes outstanding feats of safety that contribute to saving a life, a ship or other property. This was the 60th anniversary of the program.

In opening remarks, Kathy Metcalf, CSA President said: "CSA's members are committed to safe operations and CSA's involvement in safety is longstanding with our ongoing commitment to represent the industry, domestically and internationally, on safety issues encompassing every facet of ship operations. It is only fitting that an industry so focused on safety publicly recognizes the skills and dedication of the women and men who have enabled these many years of safe operations and who are responsible for actions in keeping with the highest traditions of the sea - aid to those in peril."

On the evening of February 4, 2018, while 700 miles east of the Windward Islands, the M/V Norfolk received a satellite call from the Fort DE France MRCC requesting assistance for the distressed sailing vessel Moflete.

The next morning at daybreak, the Norfolk rendezvoused with the S/V Moflete. The sailing vessel had damaged rigging and was unable to sail.

M/V Norfolk supplied diesel fuel and antibiotics to the S/V Moflete. The M/V Norfolk was then released from assistance by the MRCC and resumed its voyage.

A short while later, a distress call was received from the S/V Moflete via VHF radio. The crew of the Moflete advised that the sailboat was taking on water and that they needed to abandon ship.

With great teamwork and tremendous determination, the crew of the M/V Norfolk was able to snatch the four sailors from the clutches of the sea in rough conditions.