United States Ambassador to Marshall Islands Karen Stewart awarded the US Coast Guard’s Meritorious Public Service Award to the captain and crew of FV Lomalo last week at the Marshall Islands Resort for a rescue mission in 2015 that saved 36 fishermen from FV Glory Pacific No. 8 north of American Samoa.
Pan Pacific Foods representatives received the award on behalf of their vessel Lomalo during a brief ceremony at the MIR poolside last Friday.
The award reads: “Lomalo found the Glory Pacific No. 8 engulfed in flames with the crew having abandoned ship into two small skiffs. Demonstrating superb maritime skills, the Lomalo maneuvered their 235-foot vessel alongside the skiffs and rescued all 36 members of the Glory Pacific No. 8 crew despite tremendous fire burning in close proximity.”