ATLANTIC HAWK RECEIVES CARPATHIA AWARD


2 ATLANTIC TOWING


From left to right, Marcel


March (Master), Tom Swift (Fleet Manager), Gabriella McGrath (Commander, International Ice Patrol),


Matthew Sturge (2nd Mate), Jamie Sesk (Ch. Mate).


The Carpathia award is presented by the International Ice Patrol (IIP), a Coast Guard unit located in New London, Connecticut. The award, presented annually, recognizes a vessel that provides the IIP with the greatest number of reports of weather, sea surface temperature, sea ice and Icebergs. The IIP was established following the Titanic disaster, when the transatlantic passenger steamship RMS Carpathia saved 705 survivors flowing in their lifeboats, and aims to prevent another calamity due to ships colliding with icebergs. The Atlantic Hawk was presented the Carpathia award for their frequent reporting in 2015.


RMS Carpathia made her maiden voyage in 1903 and became famous for rescuing the survivors of rival White Star Line’s RMS Titanic after it struck an iceberg and sank with a loss of 1,512 lives on April 15, 1912. Carpathia braved dangerous ice fields and diverted all steam power to her engines in her attempt to aid the ship, but arrived two hours after Titanic had sunk; nevertheless, she was able to rescue 705 survivors from the ship’s lifeboats. Carpathia met her fate in the Atlantic on July 17, 1918, during the First World War after being torpedoed by the German submarine U-55 off the Irish coast. Five of her crew lost their lives in the sinking.


The Atlantic Hawk is an AHTS (Anchor Handling, Tug and Supply) vessel that is on hire with Husky Energy to support their White Rose oil field operations. It is 75 m long, by 18 m wide and has a gross tonnage of 3157, and was built at the Halifax Shipyard in 2000. The vessel provides support services for the White Rose oil field, including ice management, carriage of passengers, transportation of cargo, anchor handling operations, standby duties, and any other services requested by Husky Energy that the Atlantic Hawk and her crew can provide.


The Atlantic Hawk reports ice and weather conditions to the IPP as much as possible, usually every two to six hours or when new information is available.


“The Atlantic Hawk received this award in 2015 due to their frequent reporting of icebergs,” says Gabrielle McGrath, Commander of the IIP. “The information we receive from vessels is valuable to ensure that we can create the most accurate and timely iceberg warning products for the maritime community,” adds McGrath. “We incorporate the information provided by vessels directly into our iceberg database. IIP maintains a 103-year perfect safety record of protecting vessels from iceberg collision. The reports from vessels like Atlantic Hawk directly contribute to IIP’s ability to keep mariners safe.”


“The Carpathia award is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our crews,” says Shawn Wight, Fleet Manager with Atlantic Towing. “They have clearly demonstrated fine attention to detail and their willingness to execute their assigned duties to make our waterways as safe as possible for ocean going vessels, including our own.”


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