Australian Pilot Captain Ritesh Bhamaria honoured with global award

The brave pilot who saved two men that had been floating in the Torres Strait after their boat sunk has been given a global maritime award.

THE brave pilot who saved two men that had been floating in the Torres Strait after their boat sunk has been given a global maritime award.

In December 2020, Australian pilot Captain Ritesh Bhamaria who was piloting the oil tanker MT Godam through the Torres Strait spotted two men floating and wasted no time in taking action.

He has now been awarded a Certificate of Commendation from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as part of their Exceptional Bravery at Sea award.

Captain Bhamaria was humbled and thankful for the honour.

Australian Pilot Captain Ritesh Bhamaria has been recognised by AMSA and the International Marine Organisation for his exceptional bravery at sea.

“I am grateful and appreciative that AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) nominated me for the award,” Captain Bhamaria said.

“However, any pilot would have done the same thing, so this recognition is for the whole Australian piloting community.”

Captain Bhamaria said that he could not have done it without his team.

“Many thanks to the master and crew of MT Godam, Reef VTS and the shore Rescue team, because it was an all-round team effort,” he said.

When the men were initially sighted they could not see very much. After some moments they finally saw them again and the crew realised the pair were being circled by hammerhead sharks.

In that instance Captain Bhamaria made the decision not to launch a rescue boat just in case they lost that too but to turn the 251-metre ship around.

“Without hesitation, I turned the ship to the side where I had clearance,” Mr Bhamaria said.

While they couldn’t get to the men they dropped a smoke marker with a lifebuoy that the men were able to hold on to. The movement of the ship also deterred the sharks away from the fishermen.

Marine pilot Ritesh Bhamaria, who pulled off the miracle rescue of two men in the Torres Strait last year, with his wife Rashmi. Picture: Stewart McLean

AMSA chief executive officer Mick Kinley said that this award was a significant accomplishment.

“Captain Bhamaria and the ship’s crew displayed outstanding seamanship, coming together to aid others,” Mr Kinley said.

The two fisherman would have had an entirely different outcome without Captain Bhamaria and the crew.

“In this instance, Captain Bhamaria’s knowledge of the surrounding area and quick thinking allowed him to make decisions that enabled the rescue of the two men,” Mr Kinley said.

Originally published as Australian Pilot Captain Ritesh Bhamaria honoured with global award