Tag: Samho Jewelry

Raid on Samho Jewelry

he award was given to the astonishingly courageous Master of Samho Jewelry This year saw no fewer than 38 recommendations for the International Maritime Organization Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea 2011. The award is a relatively recent innovation, but seems to have established itself rapidly in the minds of flag state administrations which, by and large, make the recommendations.When, at the behest of the retiring Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos, it was first announced, it was hoped that it would prove a counterweight to both the invisibility of those who work at sea and provide visible recognition of what they sometimes do so well. The numbers of recommendations would appear to have justified all these early hopes. Courage represents an unashamed "good news" story, and there continue to be plenty of them to show seafarers and marine rescuers in a wholly favourable light and raise the profile of shipping.This year, the Assessment Panel and Panel of Judges had to adjudicate between some quite extraordinary acts of courage, seamanship and skill. There were people who voluntarily put themselves in harm's way to rescue large numbers of refugees who faced drowning in heavy weather in unsuitable craft. There was the crew of a ...

Seok Hae-Kyun was captain of the Samho Jewelry A South Korean sea captain severely wounded by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean was awarded a medal Monday for his role in thwarting the hijackers.Seok Hae-Kyun was captain of the 11,500-ton Samho Jewelry, which was seized in January but retaken six days later by South Korean naval commandos in a daring raid.He helped the rescue mission by steering his ship in a zigzag manner to slow it down as a South Korean destroyer carrying the commandos gave chase.During the raid Seok was shot several times but survived after several rounds of surgery. Twenty other crew members were rescued unhurt while eight pirates were killed and five captured.The five were flown to South Korea for trial. The man convicted of shooting Seok was jailed for life while the others were given between 13-15 years in prison.President Lee Myung-Bak Monday awarded Seok the Dongbaek Medal of the Order of Civil Merit. His doctor Lee Kug-Jong, who helped save the seriously injured wounded captain, received the same award."It appears Captain Seok was endowed with a heaven-blessed life," Lee said."You survived and can walk again...even after suffering gunshots like that.Source: AFP

Dedicated to the Master of the chemical tanker Samho Jewelry The Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has unanimously endorsed the decision of a Panel of Judges that the 2011 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea should go to Captain Seog Hae-gyun of the Republic of Korea, Master of the chemical tanker Samho Jewelry.Captain Seog was nominated by the Government of the Republic of Korea for his heroic actions to keep his vessel and crew safe, while suffering vicious assaults, following a hijack by pirates off the coast of Somalia.The Council agreed that Captain Seog displayed truly extraordinary bravery and concern for his crew after his ship was hijacked in the Indian Ocean in January 2011, going far beyond the call of duty, at great risk and danger to himself. With the pirates onboard, Captain Seog steered the vessel away from the Somali coast, watered down the fuel to prevent combustion, pretended the steering gear was not working properly and reduced the vessels speed.He also managed, surreptitiously, to communicate information to naval forces, which facilitated a dramatic raid by commandos from the Republic of Koreas destroyer Choi Young. As a result, all 21 crew members were rescued.During the ...