LASCO Tanker Ance Captain Receives IMO Award For Exceptional Bravery at Sea

Today, on February 1, 2008, Captain Viktors Timoscenko of JSC Latvijas
kuģniecība (Latvian Shipping Company - LASCO) tanker Ance received
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea
at presence of Ambassador of Canada to the Baltic Countries Claire A. Poulin,
Director of Maritime department of Latvian Ministry of Transport Aigars
Krastins, Director of Maritime Administration of Latvia Ansis Zeltins,
President of Latvian Captains' Association Karlis Zakss, Head of Latvian Sea
Force Coast Guard department Captain Hermanis Chernovs as well as other
representatives from Latvian maritime organisations and companies. 
 
IMO has established the award For Exceptional Bravery at Sea in 2006 and it is
awarded to those who under risk to their lives have saved lives of other people
at sea, prevented or reduced damage to marine environment thus deserving
international recognition. 
 
IMO Council 96th  Session established procedure for candidate selection to the
Award, criteria - vigour, skills and leadership shown, necessity of saving
operations, exceptional bravery demonstrated, risk level of persons involved or
danger, venue and weather conditions, as well as jury. 
 
In evening of November 2, 2006 crew of newly built LASCO tanker Ance,
responding to SAR (Search and Rescue) signal saved two Canadian citizens Allan
Eric Shortt and Michele Anne O'Neill their catamaran One Cool Cat having been
caught into storm 400 nautical miles from the coast of Canada. Both the crew
members from the Halifax registered catamaran reported on the catamaran in
distress in the afternoon of November 2. Ance was in 30 nautical miles from the
catamaran and, upon confirmation from Canadian Rescue Coordination Centre,
changed the course immediately in order to reach the place of the catamaran
caught in storm. Having arrived at the venue crew of Ance in leadership of
Captain Viktors Timoscenko initially had several tries to bring off the crew
from the catamaran, however without success. In several hours the US Coast
Guard plane arrived and their rescue trials also failed. However at dawn of the
following day LASCO tanker finally succeeded at the rescue operation and
welcomed aboard both the Canadian citizens. Shortly afterwards catamaran One
Cool Cat filled with water and sunk. In accordance with Ance Captain's report
both the Canadian citizens had recovered from their stress of the storm, felt
well and were ready to step on the ground, but - already at the Port of Poorvo,
Finland. LASCO tanker Ance spent 13 and half hours at the successful rescue
operation, made 84 nautical miles and saved lives of two people. 
 
A few days after the accident Ambassador of Canada to the Baltic Countries
Claire A. Poulin sent a letter of recognition and gratitude for successful
rescue operation of Canadian citizens to the LASCO management and crew of
tanker Ance. 
 
 
 
 
For further information:
Marita Ozolina-Tumanovska
Head of PR Department
Phone: (+371) 67020120, 29287169
E-mail: marita.ozolina@lscgroup.lv