Many organizations give Sailor of The Year Awards. Rolex gave the male 2025 award to Charlie Dalin. He won a race circumnavigating the world solo in 64 days & 19 hours while battling cancer. The Military Times Foundation gave their award to Ahmed El Haroun. He jumped out of a helicopter, helped disarmed 5 pirates freeing 22 hostages in the process. The Office of Naval Research gave their 2025 award to Navy Diver Mitchell Apgar for leading several teams on missions that probably no one is allowed to know about. The United States Navy Memorial gave their Lone Star Sailor award to 2 retired admirals apparently for winning a bunch of other accolades throughout their careers. The US Navy also has an official SOY program. On the commercial side of seafaring some unions & companies might give favorite employee awards but I didn’t see any meaningful “Best Merchant Mariner Awards” for our industries. Probably only a few merchant seamen would care to receive such awards but I don’t think anyone would turn down a free watch from Rolex?
There are annual awards for seafarers issued by Mission to Seafarers.
Here is the winners for 2025:
The IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is maybe the most prestigious award issued to seafarers:
The award for 2025:
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