Costa Captain Awarded for Rescuing Crew of Burning Ship

By Adam Leposa Nov 1, 2019 9:23am

Costa Cruises Captain Pietro Sinisi has been honored by the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) for his actions in saving the crew of a cargo ship that was on fire in the Aegean Sea. Captain Sinisi was one of the honorees at the annual maritime search and rescue awards ceremony held by AFRAS in the Rayburn House Office Building, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

The prize was granted in recognition for the rescue operation conducted at sea by Captain Pietro Sinisi on November 21, 2018, while he was serving as Master of the Costa Luminosa. At around midnight that day, the Costa cruise ship – sailing south of the Peloponnese en route to the port of Katakolon – received a request for intervention from the Greek Coast Guard’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center because the live fish carrier Kilic 1 was on fire and in serious distress. The crew was rescued by a Costa Luminosa tender, led by Safety Officer Marco Genovese, and then transferred to a merchant ship previously involved in operations by the Greek Coast Guard.

Under Captain Sinisi’s command, Costa Luminosa diverted course to respond to the distress call and mounted a successful rescue operation despite dense smoke coming from Kilic 1 and unfavorable sea and weather conditions, with winds of 30 knots and over six-and-a-half-foot-high waves, Costa said.

In his acceptance speech Captain Sinisi thanked AFRAS, the Greek Coast Guard and the Hellenic Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center of Piraeus, and praised the teamwork of his crew and all involved in the rescue.

Costa Captain Awarded for Rescuing Crew of Burning Ship

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