28 jan 2019

Babcock Spain crews win commendation for exceptional bravery at sea

IMO Awards Ceremony 2018. London, 6th December 2018.

Two of Babcock’s Spanish aerial search and rescue crews have been commended by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for exceptional bravery at sea.

The Certificates of Commendation, which recognise those who, at the risk of losing their own lives, perform acts to save others, as well as to prevent or mitigate damage to the environment, were awarded by the IMO’s Secretary General Kitack Lim in a ceremony in London at the end of 2018.

In a ceremony celebrated in December 2018 at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization in London, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Kitack Lim, gave a Certificate of Commendation to the crews of Helimer 207 and Helimer 202 for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. This is the first time that the IMO has made this award to a Spanish Crew.

Helimer 202 (Las Palmas) and Helimer 207 (Tenerife) helicopter crews, who operate on behalf of the Spanish Maritime Safety Agency (SASEMAR), made a heroic rescue in Canary Islands waters in August 2017 following a catastrophic explosion that saw the bulk ’MV Cheshire’ catch fire. The complexity of the situation, due to the danger of gas emanation and explosion of cargo, made the rescue a highly risky operation that both crews faced with professionalism and courage.

The two crews were acknowledged to have met the highest standards of skill, professionalism, crew co-operation, flexibility and determination when they rescued 23 crew members of the “MV Cheshire” in demanding and dangerous conditions.

Helimer 202 crew:  Captain: Víctor Hidalgo García, Copilot: Ignacio Martín Osorio, Winch operator: Albert Lara Ortiz, Rescue swimmer: Javier Losada Carballo.

Helimer 207 crew: Captain: Alfonso Gómez de las Heras Ballenilla, Copilot: Raúl Nevado García, Winch operator: Gregorio Jimmy Rodríguez Guerra, Rescue swimmer: Víctor José Torres Navarro.