On December 6, The International Maritime Organization (IMO) awarded the ‘IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery At Sea 2018’ to a Chinese diver.
Collective decision
This annual award was established by IMO 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 a life at sea or in attempting to prevent or mitigate damage to the marine environment.
The award was presented to Chinese diver Zhong Haifeng, a rescue diver from Guangzhou Salvage Bureau of Chinese Ministry of Transport. He has carried out a series of underwater dives to rescue three people when a cargo ship sank after colliding with another in China’s Guangzhou Port last November.
The judges collectively decided that the rescue merited the highest award, after China nominated Zhong. The decision was endorsed by the IMO Council at its 120th session in London in July. Of a total of 22 qualifying nominations received from 15 member states and two non-governmental organizations, a further three received Certificates of Commendation and eight received Letters of Commendation.
Awarded for exceptional bravery
A Panel of Judges agreed that Zhong demonstrated truly exceptional bravery and the human spirit during the rescue by personally exerting tireless efforts under highly dangerous circumstances.
Mr.Zhong thanked the panel for recognizing his work which provided a source of encouragement to his team as well.
In November 2017, the bulk carrier ‘MV Jin Ze Lun’ collided with another ship causing the bulk carrier to sink in the main channel to the Guangzhou port. There were 14 crew members onboard the vessel, two were rescued while 12 members were reported missing.
Zhong, senior diver and deputy of the Engineering Team of Guangzhou Salvage, was put in charge of the search for survivors. After 36 hours of diving, six survivors were found trapped in the cargo hold. Zhong instructed his team to replace oxygen to the cabin and talk to the trapped survivors to calm them. Zhong then dived down to the cargo hold with a teammate, bringing scuba diving equipment for those trapped. He dived down six times, teaching survivors how to put on and use scuba diving equipment and rescued three of them in the space of one hour.
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Source: Xinhuanet
