This year's recognition for rescuing people and property at sea the “Vjesnik Blue Ribbon 2006” will be presented to Kazimir Jakić, a commander of a police skimmer and to the entire crew of the container ship “Maersk Dampier”, owned by the German shipping company “Hansa Shipping”.
Kazimir Jakić saved the Polish married couple - Anina i Jerzy Kwiantkovski, this July, after their sailing yacht had toppled in the sea near Podgora. Only ten days earlier, also new Podgora, Jakić and his son had saved a group of young people who got caught up in a storm while trying to reach the Čaklje Bay on beach canoes.
The crew of the container ship “Maersk Dampier” is receiving its award for rescuing the 23-members crew of the Singapore cargo ship “Amar” which caught fire during its passage across the Indian Ocean, this August. At the moment of the rescuing the waves were up to three meters high.
The “Vjesnik Blue Ribbon“ award was founded in the year 1966 by the writer Ratko Zvrko, who then was the editor of the maritime heading in the “Vjesnik“ newspaper. This acknowledgement for rescuing people and property at sea is unique and on several occasions it was also presented to foreign seamen and crews which helped Croatian seamen in distress.
The actual award ceremony will occur tomorrow, on 21 November, at the Kvarner Hotel.