TITAN Salvage Team nominated for the IMO’s 2009 Exceptional Bravery at Sea Award

The TITAN Salvage team involved in the dramatic, 12-hour cliff-top rescue of the 25 crewmembers onboard the grounded cargo ship Fedra and one rescue swimmer last year has been nominated for the International Maritime Organization’s 2009 Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.

Salvage Officer Nigel Raithby, Salvage Foreman Terry Barrows, Assistant Salvage Master Stephen Wood, Salvage Engineer Mike Wood, Salvage Master Jim Conroy and Project Manager and TITAN Managing Director Dan Schwall each received commendation letters from IMO Secretary-General E.E. Mitropoulos for their courageous actions in rescuing the Fedra crew during rough storm conditions at Gibraltar’s Europa Point.

On Oct. 10, 2008, Raithby, Barrows, Stephen Wood, Mike Wood, Conroy and Schwall were in Gibraltar managing another salvage operation, the New Flame, when the Fedra, a 35,886 bulk carrier ran aground off Europa Point during storm force weather. The vessel sustained substantial damage during the grounding and broke in two at the bulkhead of the five and six cargo holds, as the carrier crashed onto Europa Point. Despite hurricane force winds and heavy rain, the TITAN team worked diligently for 12 hours to rescue the 25 crewmembers and rescue swimmer that were stranded on the deck of the vessel near cargo hold two. Risking their own lives, the salvage team used a crane, man basket and harness to rescue the stranded crewmembers as the vessel crashed against the rocky cliff.

“The TITAN team that was on site in Gibraltar carries a unique skill set. These skills, combined with quick thinking and resourcefulness, enabled us to do what needed to be done to ensure a successful outcome. Helping to save the lives of these 26 people was far more rewarding than any salvage job we have ever completed,” Conroy said.

The IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is an annual award established to provide international recognition for those who, at the risk of losing their own life, perform acts of exceptional bravery, displaying outstanding courage in attempting to save life at sea or in attempting to prevent or mitigate damage to the marine environment.

Information about TITAN can be found at www.titansalvage.com