The
prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2001 was awarded posthumously to
Dr Giuliano Pattofatto, former technical director of the Italian classification
society Registro Italiano Navale.
Mr. William A. O'Neil, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization,
presented the prize to Dr Pattofatto's widow Nella and their two sons Leone
and Riccardo during a special ceremony on
Wednesday, 4 December at IMO's London Headquarters. His Excellency Signor Luigi
Amaduzzi, Ambassador of Italy to the United Kingdom, attended the ceremony.
Dr Pattofatto died at his home in March 2001 after suffering a heart attack.
He was 60.
In the early 1970s
Mr Pattofatto began a long and distinguished participation in the work of the
IMO as a member of the Italian delegation. His abilities and personality ensured
he was much sought after as a chairman both of sub-committees and other groups.
After serving
as Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment from 1990 to 1993,
he became Chairman of the Maritime Safety Committee in 1994. His five years
in that position coincided with a period of intense regulatory activity that
focused on bulk carrier safety, the aftermath of the Estonia catastrophe, and
the introduction of the International Safety Management Code.
Important
preparatory work was also done under his leadership for the 1994, '95 and '97
Safety of Life at Sea Conferences, which saw the emphasis of much of IMO's regulatory
work change from technical to human element aspects.
His fortitude
and dedication to duty were never more clearly demonstrated than when struck
by a heart problem which necessitated a major operation soon after he took over
the chairmanship of the MSC. He did not consider for a moment giving up this
onerous work and declared himself fit for duty even before he had completely
recovered.
The International
Maritime Prize is awarded annually by IMO to the individual or organization
judged to have made the most significant contribution to the work and objectives
of IMO. The 88th session of the IMO Council in June took the decision to award
the prize to Dr Pattofatto in recognition of his long service to the cause of
maritime safety. The prize consists of a sculpture in the form of a dolphin.
Previous
winners of the prize in recent years include: Mr. Heikki Juhani Valkonen, former
Director, Maritime Safety Department, Finnish Maritime Administration (2000);
Mr. Ian Mills Williams, former Manager for IMO Relations at the Australian Maritime
Safety Authority (AMSA) (awarded prize for 1999); the International Lifeboat
Federation (ILF) (awarded prize for 1998); Dr. Gamal El-Din A. Mokhtar of Egypt,
President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport
(1997); Mr. Torkild Reedtz Funder of Denmark, former director-general of the
Danish Maritime Authority (1996); and Mr. Georgy Ivanov, Permanent Representative
of the Russian Federation to IMO (1995).
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