A Vroon seafarer is $2,500 richer after his quick actions on a livestock carrier averted a potentially dangerous situation during refuelling.
Rating Sherwin Montano received the Dutch shipowner's Leaders in Safety award for 2020 on his current vessel, the 1,560-dwt cattle ship Murray Express (built 1995).
But he was recommended by his colleagues for the honour for his actions on the 5,500-dwt Girolando Express (built 2014) in Tianjin, China, last year.
Montano intervened when he observed unsafe transfer access during bunkering.
After the bunker barge had safely moored alongside the Girolando Express, the fuel vessel's crew mounted a transfer ladder horizontally, with no railing or proper rigging.
The crewman immediately identified this safety issue and instructed the barge’s crew to remove the ladder in order to avoid an incident.
Once this request had been followed, Montano installed the livestock carrier’s own ladder, mounting it vertically and thereby guaranteeing safe transfer between the barge and the Girolando Express.
Charity benefits too
"We congratulate Sherwin and the crew members who nominated him," Vroon said.
In addition to a Delft Blue commemorative plate, and the money, another $2,500 will be donated to a charity of his choice.
There were more than 30 nominees for the award.
A shortlist of eight was chosen, with the final winner being selected by the Vroon group managing board.
"The high number of nominations is witness to the continuing success of our company-wide Leaders in Safety programme," Vroon added.
