Captain and Coast Guard Vessel Rescuing Crew at Sinking and Distress Site... 'Hero of the Sea Award'

The Korea Coast Guard announced on the 20th that Captain Park Young-hwan (50) and the Donghae Coast Guard Station's vessel 3016 have been selected as recipients of the Encouragement Award for the 'Heroes of the Sea' by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) this year.

Since 2007, the 'Heroes of the Sea' award, given annually, is presented by the IMO, a United Nations (UN) affiliated organization, to individuals or groups who risk their lives to rescue people at sea or prevent marine pollution.

Captain Park, of the vessel '2016 Sinae Sanho,' discovered a sinking cargo ship while fishing near Eocheongdo, Gunsan, Jeonbuk Province, on the afternoon of December 20 last year and proceeded to rescue the crew. At that time, all nine crew members of the cargo ship had jumped into the sea and were drifting.

Despite the risk of damaging his own fishing boat, Park approached the cargo ship closely and safely rescued them. Two crew members of Sinae Sanho also jumped into the sea to save one injured crew member who could not get back on board during the escape.

Captain Park Young-hwan (second from left) receiving the 'Hero of the Sea' award [Photo provided by the Korea Coast Guard]

The Donghae Coast Guard Station's vessel 3016 responded to a distress call from a 69-ton trap fishing boat near Dokdo on December 18 last year, when a storm warning was in effect, and rescued all 10 crew members. The fishing boat was drifting due to a sudden engine failure. Despite the severe weather with raging waves, the 3016 towed the boat for 63 hours and safely handed it over to another fishing boat in the same fleet.

Meanwhile, in South Korea, Captain Seok Hae-gyun of the Samho Jewelry, a hero of the Gulf of Aden who fought against pirates in 2011, received the highest 'IMO Heroes of the Sea' award. Since the 3009 vessel of Mokpo Coast Guard Station in 2011, the Korea Coast Guard has received the Heroes of the Sea award nine times up to this year.

A Korea Coast Guard official stated, "We will further strengthen our rescue capabilities for prompt and safe rescue operations in the event of maritime accidents and actively cooperate with the private sector in rescue efforts."

Donghae Maritime Police Station's vessel 3016 is rescuing a distressed fishing boat in severe weather conditions. 2022.12.18 [Photo by Korea Coast Guard]

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