CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE CAPTAIN AND TEAM RECOGNIZED FOR HEROIC RESCUE AT SEA THAT SAVED 16 LIVES
Association for Rescue at SeaHonors Mardi Gras Team with Cruise Ship Humanitarian Assistance Award
MIAMI, April 10, 2024 – Carnival Cruise Line Captain Niccolo De Ranieri and his team on Mardi Gras were honored Tuesday evening by the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) for saving the lives of 16 people. Ranieri accepted the Cruise Ship Humanitarian Assistance Award at the AFRAS annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., an event that recognizes heroism at sea by the U.S. Coast Guard, merchant mariners and cruise ship personnel.
Captain De Ranieri was at the helm as Mardi Gras was returning to its homeport, Port Canaveral, Fla., on June 3, 2022 when the crew spotted a stranded vessel carrying eleven men and five women in rough seas near Cuba. In very challenging conditions, as the ship was navigating away from an approaching hurricane, the Mardi Gras team took the 16 stranded people on board for their safety where they were evaluated by the ship’s medical staff and provided food and clothing as a safe transfer with the U.S. Coast Guard was coordinated.
“Receiving this award is a humbling reminder of the responsibility we have as mariners. I’m proud of my team’s brave and coordinated efforts during this rescue,” said Captain De Ranieri. “It’s an honor to be recognized, and I’m thankful those 16 people were brought to safety.”
It is a maritime custom to help anyone in distress at sea. In 2023, Carnival teams completed six separate rescues, helping to bring 57 stranded people to safety.
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ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S., two Australian homeports and seasonally from Europe, and employs more than 48,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival’s fleet of 27 ships reflects an exciting period of growth since 2021. Carnival’s next new guest offering will be the all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key, set to debut on Grand Bahama in summer 2025.
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