By NNN-Bernama,
Kuala Lumpur : The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has received an award for excellence from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for its role in operations against piracy in the waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.
According to a RMN statement received here Wednesday, the award for Exceptional Services Rendered to Shipping and Mankind was received in London on Monday by the RMN’s Captain Mohamad Adib Abdul Samad, who is the commanding officer of the KD Sri Indera Sakti.
The Indera Sakti, a multi-role support vessel, succeeded in repelling two attempts by pirates to seize the Chinese-owned ship Zhen Hua on Dec 4 and Dec 18, 2008 and an attempt to seize the Indian-owned ship MT Abul Kalam Azad on Jan 1, 2009,” the statement said.
The award is a special recognition for the bravery of the individuals or teams in risking their lives and displaying exceptional skills in saving lives at sea or avoiding disaster and environmental destruction at sea, the statement added.
The Secretary-General of the IMO, Efthimious Mitropoulos, gave away the award. Also present at the awards ceremony were Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat and Malaysian High Commissioner (ambassador) to Britain Abd Aziz Mohammed.