Orion recognised by Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Captain Mike Taylor, of the luxury-expedition vessel Orion has been presented with a Certificate of Appreciation and Anchor after responding to an emergency call from the authority and altered its course to rescue French sailor Alain Delord, whose yacht ran into trouble in the Southern Ocean.
The Orion was sailing on an 18-night Antarctic voyage when she responded to the distress call. The AMSA's senior search and rescue officer, John Rice, said it was "a great pleasure" to present the Certificate of Appreciation to Captain Taylor and the entire crew aboard Orion on behalf of the authority and the Rescue Coordination Centre of Australia. The Orion successfully rescued Mr Delord from the Southern Ocean on January 20 amidst terrible conditions with winds gusting over 40 knots.
Regardless of the weather, Captain Taylor and the entire team aboard Orion strategically put a rescue operation into place, where the 4,000 tonne ship was used as a windbreaker whilst a Zodiac safely recovered Mr Delord from a life raft.
