AFRAS Honors C-PORT Members with Lifesaving Awards

AFRAS celebrated two C-PORT members with its prestigious lifesaving award at the 39th C-PORT Conference held January 26–28, 2026 at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort, Orlando, FL.  The award was announced on Tuesday during the C-PORT Awards Banquet Gala.  

Honored were Captain Michael Tucker, Big Water Cowboys/TowBoatU.S. Lake Texoma and Captain Zach Baxter, Estrada Marine Service/TowBoatU.S. Lake Lanier.

RADM James Olson, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.), AFRAS Board member, was slated to present, but the winter storm made that impossible, grounding flights around the country.  CAPT Matt Fine, Chief, Office of Shore Forces, USCG, was at the event and graciously agreed to present these lifesaving awards to the honorees.

RADM Olson sent his congratulations stating, “The Association for Rescue at Sea, AFRAS, promotes the importance of maritime safety with support and award recognition for outstanding rescues and assistance. AFRAS works with many maritime and aviation organizations in the United States and Internationally. AFRAS provides worldwide support and assistance to volunteer air and sea rescue services. As an AFRAS Board member, I am proud to congratulate your two Association for Rescue At Sea award winners this year, Captain Zach Baxter from Estrada Marine Service, and Captain Michael Tucker from Big Water Cowboys, and his deckhand Elie Karam.”

Tina Cardone, executive director of C-PORT commented, “Our association is thrilled to continue to have our members receive this high honor.”  This award represents over a decade’s long relationship between C-PORT and AFRAS.  In 2010, AFRAS had expressed a desire to establish a program, in cooperation with C-PORT, to annually recognize a deserving member of C-PORT that has shown exceptional skill and determination to save lives during a rescue incident in the maritime environment.  The Award is to be conferred on an individual or group of individuals who perform exceptional acts in attempting to save life.  Instances where the rescuer places their own life at risk are given highest consideration.  

Read about the rescues here: AFRAS C-PORT Lifesaving Awards 2025