Captain Sam Nelson and crew of the Foss Maritime Company tugboat Justine Foss received the Lifesaving Award from the Seamen's Church Institute at their annual
Silver Bell Dinner on June 1 in New York. United States
Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen was in attendance and personally congratulated Captain Nelson.
Captain Nelson and his crew received the award for their heroic efforts in response to the needs of the crew of the tugboat Valour and the barge M-192 while in heavy weather and rough seas on January 18, 2006 off the coast of
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Capt. Nelson and his crew, through their seamanship skills, were able to rescue five men from the water and regain control of the laden tank barge during darkness and severe sea conditions, said Paul Gallagher, Director of Sales Marine Transportation, Foss Maritime.
In addition, on Friday, June 9, Don McElroy, Foss Maritime Vice President of Marine Transportation, was presented with top honors at the Jones F. Devlin Ship Safety Achievement Awards Luncheon held by the Chamber of Shipping of America at the Hilton Riverside Hotel in New Orleans in honor of the JUSTINE FOSS and her rescue of the crew of the Valour.