Family Rescued From Small Boat in Strait of Juan De Fuca AFRAS (Association For Rescue At Sea) Honor

C-PORT (Conference of Professional Operators for Response Towing) and AFRAS (Association For Rescue At Sea) celebrated and presented lifesaving awards to a number of marine assistance operators at the 24^th Annual C-PORT Conference Awards Banquet held on January 25, 2011 at Long Beach, CA.  “This is the first year AFRAS attended and presented an award to one of our operators,” Tina Cardone, Executive Director stated.  “It was a great honor to have Captain Gabriel Kinney, USCG (Ret) and President of AFRAS (Association For Rescue At Sea) present this award.”  Cardone explained that 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 in the maritime environment.  Instances where the rescuer places their own life at risk were given highest consideration.  In addition to the AFRAS Award, Captain David McBride, Chief, USCG Office of Search and Rescue presented Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service Awards to a number of deserving individuals on behalf of C-PORT.

Receiving the First AFRAS Award presented in conjunction with C-PORT were Roger Slade and his daughter Andrenika (Nika) Slade of Marine Assist of Port Hadlock/Vessel Assist Port Hadlock. Read more...