A special accolade was presented to key figures behind the remarkable rescue operation at the Humber Renewables Awards on May 1, with a standing ovation given by the 200-strong audience.

Guests at the annual gala dinner heard how crew transfer vessels dropping technicians at a wind farm were first on the scene following the mayday call, as the incident unfolded off the East Yorkshire coast on March 10.

A total of 36 of the 37 sailors were rescued by the Windcat team working on RWE’s Humber Gateway, with the quick-thinking actions of crew seeing them tow lifeboats to safety from burning waters, as spilled aviation fuel burned and the fire on the conjoined vessels intensified.

Back on land emergency services mustered at RWE’s Grimsby base, with full incident co-ordination taking place from the control room.

Skipper Brian Smith, his Windcat fleet manager Dean Login and RWE’s Humber Gateway general manager Nathan Kerins’ unstinting efforts were applauded following BBC presenter Phillip Norton’s poignant citation, with the Grimsby-born journalist invited to the stage having covered the news as it unfolded.

Mr Kerins said: “The guys in the field gave exemplary examples of bravery, commitment and professionalism. It is absolutely right they are recognised. The whole industry demonstrated what they can offer to the wider maritime community. The drilling and the readiness, in terms of urgency from an operational perspective, lends itself to that.

“We were just doing our job, fulfilling our role. They were extraordinary circumstances, there were a lot of dynamic risk assessments taking place, it was a once in a lifetime thing and we dealt with it the best we could. We tried our best to do whatever we could and just save lives.

“The recognition is amazing, I never expected anything like this.”

The lost sailor was also remembered as part of the presentation, which was the finale to trade organisation Humber Marine & Renewables’ Offshore Wind Connections 2025 (OWC2025) conference and exhibition, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Hull.

© Eastern Daily Press