23 November 2015 – In ceremonies held at its headquarters in London, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) cited Filipino seafarer Vicente Somera for exceptional bravery at sea.
Presiding over the awards ceremonies, IMO Secretary General Koji Sekimizu handed a certificate of commendation to Able Seaman Somera of M/V Lars Maersk “for his role in rescuing, in treacherous sea conditions, gale force winds and total darkness and after three challenging hours, a hypothermic sailor who had sustained several life-threatening falls attempting to repair an oil leak on his sailing vessel and who had jumped overboard in an attempt to retrieve a messenger line which had been thrown to him.”
Aside from Somera, nine other individuals received commendations for various rescues at sea. Somera is the only seafarer cited in this year’s award, all the others being mostly crewmembers of rescue units. The 2015 Exceptional Bravery at Sea Award was given to Aviation Survival Technician Christopher Leon of the US Coast Guard.
Somera was recognized for his selfless actions on 31 August 2014 when he rescued mariner Steve Collins who was sailing his vessel Enya II on a solo voyage from Australia to New Zealand. Encountering problems with his vessel, Collins jumped overboard to retrieve a messenger line thrown to him by crewmembers of the passing ship and was already hypothermic, prompting Somera to risk his life in order to save the distressed mariner. Somera used his own body to protect Collins from being crushed by the swinging ladder in between passing swells. Several members of the MV Lars Maersk crew then ran down to assist the survivor up the vessel’s side in an arduous climb up the accommodation ladder to main deck level, 20 metres above.
Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Enrique A. Manalo, who is also the country’s Permanent Representative to the IMO, witnessed the awarding ceremony with Mr. Mick Kinley, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Maritime Safety Agency (AMSA), which nominated Somera for the award.
“One can only be in awe of Mr. Somera’s willingness to risk his life in order to save a human life at sea,“ Ambassador Manalo said at the ceremony. “His actions are emblematic of Filipino seafarers’ professionalism and dedication to their work,” he added. END