13 April 2024
Carnival Cruise Line Captain Niccolo De Ranieri and his team on the Mardi Gras ship have been honoured by the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) for saving the lives of 16 people. Captain De Ranieri accepted the Cruise Ship Humanitarian Assistance Award at the AFRAS annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., an event that recognises 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 of Port Canaveral in Florida, in June 2022, when the crew spotted a stranded vessel carrying eleven men and five women in rough seas near Cuba. In challenging conditions, as the ship was navigating away from an approaching hurricane, the Mardi Gras team took the 16 stranded people onboard. They were evaluated by the ship’s medical staff and provided with food and clothing, as a safe transfer with the U.S. coastguard was coordinated.
Captain De Ranieri said: “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. It’s an honour to be recognised, and I’m thankful those 16 people were brought to safety.”
In 2023, Carnival teams completed six separate rescues, helping to bring 57 stranded people to safety.
