The American Waterways Operators (AWO) has introduced the inaugural awardees of its newly-launched American Waterways Honor & Excellence in Rescue Operations (HERO) Award.
The awards doc and acknowledge rescues undertaken by AWO member firm staff that display selflessness, ability and bravado.
Qualifying occasions for the HERO award embody, amongst others: rescuing business or leisure mariners; responding to a medical emergency onboard; recovering an individual who has fallen overboard; responding to an individual in misery whereas touring to/from the boat; and different selfless service actions that replicate the security tradition of the American tugboat, towboat and barge trade.
The inaugural American Waterways HERO awardees embody six vessel crews employed by three totally different AWO member firms:
- The crew aboard M/V Ron Callegan, American Commercial Barge Line, for rescuing a crew member from a fall overboard close to the Plaquemine, Louisiana ferry
- The crew aboard M/V Safety Explorer, American Commercial Barge Line, for rescuing a crew member who had fallen overboard from one other vessel
- The crew working for Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, LLC who, whereas engaged on the Houston Ship Channel Project, rescued three folks from the water after their boat caught hearth
- The crew aboard M/V Mary Ok. Cavarra, Ingram Barge Company, for rescuing an individual within the water close to the St. Paul City Front
- The crew aboard M/V Michael J. Granger, Ingram Barge Company, for rescuing a distressed car driver who had entered the water close to Paducah, Kentucky
- The crew aboard M/V Midland, Ingram Barge Company, who responded to a well being emergency on their vessel, rendering instant care and supporting an airlift evacuation on the Illinois River
AWO President & CEO Jennifer Carpenter commented: “We are proud to recognize the inaugural recipients of the American Waterways HERO Award and we congratulate them on this achievement. These crews exemplify the purpose of our launching this award: to recognize the heroism of the men and women of America’s tugboat, towboat and barge industry, whose actions prevent harm and save lives on the water every day. We look forward to highlighting such acts of professionalism and selflessness, and at the same time learning from those efforts to continue improving safety across our industry.”
Mary McCarthy, Director of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Moran Towing Corporation, and Co-Chair of the AWO Safety Leadership Advisory Panel Distracted Operations Subcommittee, commented: “We always say that our mariners are the eyes and ears of the waterways, but sometimes they’re the hands as well – first on the scene to help someone in need. The mariners that conduct rescues on the water often do so behind the scenes and humbly refer to their life-saving actions as ‘just part of the job.’ We’re excited to bring those stories to the forefront to show our mariners’ valuable contributions to communities on the water, and share learnings from them to help all of us improve as operators and responders.”
Companies wishing to appoint staff for an American Waterways HERO Award can fill out an informational form. Information submitted via this system could also be shared by AWO with members and the general public to assist security efforts akin to lessons-learned shows or security trending studies, and to lift public consciousness of the trade’s position in making certain security on America’s waterways.
