The 2025 International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea has been presented to Officer Lee Tae Young, a first mate from South Korea, in recognition of his heroic actions in saving 12 fellow crew members of the Geum Seong No. 135.
When the vessel listed and capsized in November 2024, Lee risked his life by throwing two life rings and helping crew members climb to safety. He rescued 12 of the 27 crew onboard and was the last to leave the stricken ship.
“In that instant, my body moved instinctively, my actions preceding my thoughts. I acted on the belief, ingrained from my days as a scuba diving instructor, that cool-headedness saves lives,” Lee said.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez praised Lee for his “extraordinary leadership, courage and selflessness”.
“I prioritised my colleagues over my own safety. It wasn’t so much a choice I made, but rather a feeling of family, having lived together on the sea. That feeling remains unchanged to this day,” Lee added.
Expressing gratitude for the award, Lee stressed that the safety of seafarers is not an individual responsibility, but one shared by shipowners and governments:
“We must never forget that a single lapse in vigilance can take a life.”
Certificates of Commendation were also awarded at the ceremony held on Monday to Captain Flouris Dimitrios and the crew of the tug supply vessel Aigaion Pelagos for their exceptional bravery during the salvage of the crude oil tanker M/T Sounion, which was attacked by the Houthi in August last year.
The IMO said the crew risked their own lives to avert an environmental catastrophe, working in adverse safety and security conditions.
The ship was left without power after a Houthi attack on 21 August 2024, before another attack two days later left the vessel with multiple fires onboard. The tanker was carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil.
According to the IMO, the Aigaion Pelagos crew carried out an extensive salvage operation, boarding the abandoned vessel under extreme heat and hazardous conditions, extinguishing all fires and securing the cargo. Their actions were crucial in preventing an environmental disaster.
Dominguez also recognised the courage of the captain and crew of the Galaxy Leader, who endured more than a year in captivity between November 2023 and January 2025.
“Their ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the many seafarers who, through no fault of their own, have been held hostage or subject to prolonged detention and grave danger at sea amid geopolitical tensions,” he said.
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