IMO Awards Ceremony 2026

Mr. Jeffrey G. Lantz - a naval architect, marine engineer and former United States Coast Guard captain with more than 50 years of maritime experience - has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 International Maritime Prize.  

Please see more information here. 

2026 IMO Honours for Exceptional Bravery at sea

The 2026 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea will be presented posthumously to Mr. Adrian Willyson Brask, in recognition of his extraordinary courage and self-sacrifice during an attempt to rescue a young girl from a capsized fishing vessel in the waters of Nappstraumen in Norway in 2025.

Two nominees will receive certificates of commendation for their acts of bravery:

• SN2 Nick-Nick S. Udasan and SN2 Ian Glenn B. Morfe, members of the Coast Guard Sea Marshal Force, Philippine Coast Guard 

Nominated by the Philippines for their leadership during the evacuation of the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, which suffered structural failures and sank at night. The two officers alerted rescue authorities, distributed life jackets and, after the ship sank, spent more than two hours in the water helping other survivors, contributing to the survival of 316 passengers.  

• Captain Thomas Michael Leaf and the crew of the M/T Stena Immaculate 

Nominated by the United States for their firefighting response after their tanker collided with a container vessel, triggering an explosion and fire involving aviation fuel cargo. Their disciplined response enabled the safe evacuation of all 23 crew members and averted a major environmental disaster.  

In addition, 11 letters of commendation will be sent to their recipients.

Please see more information here.