Int’l Maritime Org honors bravery of Filipino mariner

Thursday 12th of July 2012

QUEZON CITY, July 12 (PIA) -- A Filipino mariner reaps international recognition for the bravery he and his crew exhibited in rescuing two Italian crew members from their sinking seacraft.

Captain Ely C. Sinoy, master of M/V Daio Azalea, received a letter of commendation from Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Koji Sekimizu and was awarded by the IMO Council during the 2012 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea which convened last June in London.

In a statement, Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, Philippine Permanent Representative to IMO, said "The recognition given to Captain Sinoy and his crew once again demonstrate that Filipino seafarers are not only world-class but are also willing to risk their lives to rescue victims of maritime accidents."

It was early Wednesday morning May 11, 2011 when U.S. Coast Guard rescue personnel received notification from rescue authorities in Rome that the catamaran Stella Cometa suffered a broken mast and was taking on water 900 miles east of Boston, USA.

The Coast Guard personnel alerted Panamanian flagged ship Daio Azalea that was sailing then 28 miles from the stricken sailboat.

Arriving on the scene at dusk, Sinoy and his crew discovered that the sailing vessel had already sunk and the two crew members of Stella Cometa were adrift in a life raft amidst strong gale wind force 9 with very rough seas.

Finding the two Italian sailors adrift in a life raft, the crew of M/V Daio Azalea immediately began operation. During the rescue, one of the sailors suffered minor head injury that rendered him immobile for sometime. After almost four hours, M/V Daio Azalea successfully rescued the two Italian yachtsmen.

Sinoy is the fourth recipient of the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. Earlier recipients of IMO letters of commendation were Lt. Commander Vanessa Anne I. Garon and Ensign Maria Alexandra I. Garon of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2009 for their role in searching for victims of the capsized M/V Princess of the Stars, and Captain Jeffrey J. Federigan, master of M/V Delmas Nacal, for his role in evading the capture of his vessels by Somali pirates in 2011.

Filipino sea marshals, composed of Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Samuel B. Boniol, Navy Petty Officer Third Class Anifer S. Bucao, Navy Seaman First Class Oliver S. Cogo, and PNP Senior Police Officer Loreto F. Justo also received in 2010 the IMO certificates of commendation for their role in the safe disembarkation of passengers from the ill-fated M/V Super Ferry. (DFA/AMVER/CAMSS/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)