Greek captain and crew commended by IMO for brave acts in Red Sea

Captain Flouris Dimitrios and the crew of the tug supply vessel Aigaion Pelagos among those to be recognized for outstanding acts of courage at sea.

Captain Flouris Dimitrios and the crew of the tug supply vessel Aigaion Pelagos will receive certificates of commendation from the International Maritime Organization as part of the annual IMO Awards ceremony to take place later this year in November.

This was endorsed by the IMO Council during its 134th session held in London this week (7 – 11 July).

A total of 60 nominations for the prestigious award were submitted by 24 Member States and one non-governmental organization. An Assessment Panel, chaired by the IMO Secretary-General, conducted the initial review. The nominations were then evaluated by a Panel of Judges, chaired by the Chair of the IMO Council, whose recommendations were submitted to the Council for endorsement.

Officer Lee Tae-Young of the Republic of Korea will receive this year’s IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea, in recognition of his heroic actions in saving 12 fellow crew members when the fishing vessel 135 Geumseongho sank in November 2024.

In addition, the Council endorsed four recipients for certificates of commendation:

Captain Flouris Dimitrios and the crew of the tug supply vessel Aigaion Pelagos, nominated by Greece;
The Members of the Special Rescue Team of the Japanese Coast Guard, nominated by Japan;
The Captain and crew of the Rescue 901 helicopter of the 103 Squadron, Gander NL&L, Royal Canadian Airforce, nominated by Canada;
Aviation Survival Technician Second Class (AST2) Micheal Diglio, Coast Guard rescue swimmer at the Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater of the United States Coast Guard, nominated by the United States;
18 other individuals and groups to receive letters of commendation. (See full list.)

Salvaging the MT Sounion

Captain Flouris Dimitrios and his crew were nominated by Greece for their exceptional bravery, exemplary seamanship and resource management skills in the salvage operation of the M/T Sounion, which was attacked while traversing the Red Sea region in August 2024. Numerous attacks on international shipping have taken place in the Red Sea region due to broader geopolitical tensions.

The Captain and crew successfully averted the catastrophic environmental disaster under adverse safety and security conditions, risking their own lives. The vessel was sailing in the Red Sea carrying about 150,000 metric tons of heavy crude oil and nearly 3,000 metric tons of fuel/bunkers on board, when it was struck by three uncrewed aerial devices and lost engine power.

After the crew evacuated, several explosions and fires dispersed on the main deck, causing extensive damage to the vessel. The crew carried out an extensive salvation operation, boarding the abandoned vessel under extreme heat and hazardous conditions, managing to extinguish all the fires and ensure the cargo was stationary.

The actions of the Aigaion Pelagos Captain and crew were crucial in preventing an environmental disaster.

IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea

This annual Award was established by the IMO to provide international recognition for those who perform acts of exceptional bravery, displaying outstanding courage in attempting to save life at sea or in attempting to prevent damage to the marine environment.

The annual awards ceremony will be held this year at IMO Headquarters in London in November 2025.
Source: IMO