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The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has presented Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) with a special certificate in recognition of the humanitarian role played by the oil tanker Al Salami, during the rescue of 536 refugees in international waters in 2014. This is believed to be the largest maritime rescue operation ever mounted.
The ship’s crew provided shelter, food and medical care for the survivors, some of whom were critically ill after being rescued from the sea, before being safely transported to an Italian port.
As a result of this outstanding achievement, the company received a “Certificate of Appreciation” which was presented by Kitack Lim, Secretary General of the IMO to the Chief Executive Officer of KOTC, H.E. Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, during a meeting held at the IMO headquarters in London on November 29th.
During the presentation Lim also praised the pioneering role played by KOTC through its commitment to the flag State, and the maritime transport industry in general, while H.E. Sheikh Talal applauded the efforts of the IMO in enhancing the efficiency and performance of worldwide seaborne fleets, as well as protecting the environment. Environmental protection is a shared goal, he pointed out, drawing attention to the fact that KOTC recently participated in the Conference of the Organization for Climate Change (COP 23 – UNFCCC) which was held this November in Bonn, Germany.
During the IMO meeting H.E. Sheikh Talal said, “We appreciate the recognition of the efforts of our crew during this rescue and we would like to thank all individuals as well as organisations that work hard for a safe and efficient shipping industry.”
