Sea captain, retired army member given Blue Sash awards for rescue operations at sea

The 42nd Blue Sash, the Vjesnik daily's award for rescue operations at sea, was presented in Opatija last Wednesday to the Croatian captain of the Japanese ship Towada, Mate Beretina of Zadar, and to a retired member of the Croatian Army special units, Richard Kostić of Veli Lošinj.

The crew of the tanker Towada and its captain Mate Beretina were awarded a Blue Sash for rescuing 26 crew members of the Chinese cargo ship Jeinshan.

The rescue operation happened at sea off the coast of the Philippines on the night of February 18, during a storm with seven-meter high waves.

The captain and the engine driver of the Chinese ship refused to leave the severely damaged vessel and sank with it.

Richard Kostić received a Blue Sash for saving two French tourists whose canoe capsized off the coast of Veli Lošinj in a gale-force wind on August 7.

The Blue Sash award was founded in 1966 by writer Ratko Zvrko.


(Hina)

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