An Indian master who spotted and rescued two drifting French fishermen has scooped the industry's top individual bravery award for 2018.
Captain Siddarth Sharma was honoured by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) for his actions.
His 1,900-gt integrated tug-barge Astal-Lorida (built 1977), operated by Trinitas Ship Management, was en route from New Orleans to be scrapped in Gadani, Pakistan.
Meanwhile, two French mariners had been drifting for three days on a sinking fishing boat.
Sharma saw them from the bridge of his vessel when they were 2.5km away and immediately diverted his ship to rescue them.
Theresa Crossley, CEO of IMRF, said: "The winners of this years' IMRF Awards include some outstanding individuals and exceptional organisations and companies who really set the 'gold standard' for maritime search and rescue around the world."
Sharma said: "It is every seafarer's and master's solemn duty to save souls in distress at sea.
"I just did what any seafarer should do. Yes, it was an instant decision, but not without assessing the risks involved. I just did my duty."
The Outstanding Team Contribution gong went to the crew of KNRM Station Terschelling Paal 8, from Friesland, Netherlands.
The Innovation and Technology award was won by the Pink Rescue Buoy, developed by the National Sea Rescue Institute in South Africa.
There were two winners of The IMRF Vladimir Maksimov Award for Lifetime Achievement.
It was shared by John Kooijman, who founded CITRO (Curacao Sea Rescue Organisation), and Captain Nick Guerchev, chairman and founder of BULSAR, the Bulgarian national volunteer maritime safety society.
The winner of the People's Choice Award was the Canadian Coast Guard volunteer rescue specialists.
The awards were presented at a dinner at the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue training centre near Horten in Norway.
The lead sponsor for the awards is Orolia Maritime.
