The Oleander will receive a special award at Capitol Hill for its successful rescue of a yacht in 2011.The Bermuda cargo ship rescued the distressed crew members of the Elle last November.The US Consulate will recognise their act of heroism and bravery with a special award ceremony in Washington DC on October 4, organised as part of the US Coast Guard’s Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) programme.AMVER is a worldwide search and rescue network that aims to assist ships and aircraft in distress at sea.Said US Consul General Grace Shelton: “Ships earn an AMVER award by being ‘on plot’ at least 128 days of the calendar year.“The Oleander, although it did not meet that minimum requirement, did in fact save four sailors from a 46ft sailboat foundering in the Atlantic last November, and I want to recognise their bravery. ”The vessel is registered to Container Ship Management, Ltd (CSM).Vice president of vessel operations Blair Simmons explained that the Oleander did not meet the 128-day period because the ship was being renovated.“Between January and April 2011 the Oleander was undertaking a major life-extension refit in Holland, and as such, the vessel did not achieve the minimum 128 days ‘on plot’ with the AMVER system to again earn one of their annual awards,” he said.“Nonetheless, Bermuda Container Line and the owners of the Oleander are incredibly proud of the officers and crew on the vessel who remain committed to offer all possible assistance to fellow mariners that may find themselves in need of assistance on the high seas.”The award was announced at a ceremony honouring 17 other ships for their participation in the AMVER programme. The companies represented included AET Inc, Bernhard Schulte Ship Management Ltd, Frontline Ltd, Gearbulk Pool Ltd, Golden Ocean Group Ltd, Nordic American Tankers Ltd and Petredec Ltd. Letters of appreciation, certificates of merit and pennants were awarded.The ships served in the rescue programme for varying lengths of time, with the Eagle Atlanta of AET Ltd serving for the longest period of five consecutive years. None of the 17 ships was actually called upon to engage in a rescue, but all were readily available to help if the need arose.