Information

Recent Initiatives:

Commencing from approximately 2004 onward, AFRAS sought to take on several new initiatives, to include Corporate Sponsorships to assist with fund-raising efforts, more inclusive recognition of other significant SAR events to include a CAR/SAR Award (recognition of heroic SAR in the Caribbean), the C-PORT Award (commercial maritime assistance industry), and SAR events of national significance, including: US Naval Reserve Unit, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD for rescue of capsized water taxi in April, 2004; Carnival Cruise Liner “Holiday” for rescue of five Mexican fishermen in August, 2004; Cruise ship “Grand Princess” for rescue of two after getting underway from Galveston in April, 2006; Annapolis Fire Department for rescue of a woman from a capsized sailboat at night in July, 2008; and, the NY Waterway for the rescue of passengers from US AIR flight 1549 in NYC in January, 2009.

General Information:

AFRAS formally sponsors six maritime rescue awards, four of which – the VADM Thomas Sargent III Gold Lifesaving Medal, the Silver Lifesaving Medal, the Amver Award (merchant marine industry) and the Cruise Ship Humanitarian Assistance Award – are awarded at our annual ceremony on Capitol Hill with U.S. Coast Guard Commandant and/or Vice Commandant in attendance, in addition to many Members of Congress.

The C-PORT (commercial maritime assistance industry) Award recipient is recognized at their industry’s annual conference, and recognition of the Caribbean SAR Award recipient has been handled via diplomatic channels. Details of each award can be found by accessing the “Honoring Extraordinary Rescues” button.

In addition, AFRAS has awarded other AFRAS-sponsored lifesaving awards during other events of national significance, to include: US Naval Reserve Unit, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD for rescue of capsized water taxi in April, 2004; Carnival Cruise Liner “Holiday” for rescue of five Mexican fishermen in August, 2004; Cruise ship “Grand Princess” for rescue of two after getting underway from Galveston in April, 2006; Annapolis Fire Department for rescue of a woman from a capsized sailboat at night in July, 2008; and, the NY Waterway for the rescue of passengers from US AIR flight 1549 in NYC in January, 2009.