Award for hero pilot
THE Australian marine pilot who saved two men floating in the Torres Strait after their boat sank has been given a global maritime award.
Ritesh Bhamaria was piloting the oil tanker MT Godam through the Torres Strait in December last year when he spotted the two men in the water.
Captain Bhamaria wasted no time in taking action.
He has now been awarded a Certificate of Commendation from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as part of its Exceptional Bravery at Sea award.
Captain Bhamaria said he was humbled and thankful for the honour.
“I am grateful and appreciative that AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) nominated me for the award,” he said.
“However, any pilot would have done the same thing, so this recognition is for the whole Australian piloting community.”
Captain Bhamaria said he could not have done it without his team.
“Many thanks to the master and crew of MT Godam, Reef VTS and the shore Rescue team, because it was an all-round team effort,” he said.
The men had spent 16 hours in the water, clinging to a piece of wood after their boat capsized, before Captain Bhamaria spotted them from the deck of the MT Godam.
The crew realised the pair were being circled by hammerhead sharks and Captain Bhamaria decided not to launch a rescue boat just in case they lost that too, but to turn the 251-metre ship around.
“Without hesitation, I turned the ship to the side where I had clearance,” he said.
While they could not get to the men, they dropped a smoke marker with a lifebuoy that the men were able to hold on to. The movement of the ship also deterred the sharks away from the fishermen.
AMSA chief executive officer Mick Kinley said the award was a significant accomplishment.
“Captain Bhamaria and the ship’s crew displayed outstanding seamanship, coming together to aid others,” he said.
The two fisherman would have had an entirely different outcome without Captain Bhamaria and the crew.
“In this instance, Captain Bhamaria’s knowledge of the surrounding area and quick thinking allowed him to make decisions that enabled the rescue of the two men,” Mr Kinley said.