The U.S. Coast Guard presented Capt. Christopher Thornton with a Meritorious Public Service Award for his role in averting catastrophe during an uncontrolled acceleration on the containership MSC Michigan VII.
Thornton, a Charleston Branch Pilot, guided the ship down the Cooper River and out to sea on June 5 at speeds reaching 14 knots — nearly twice as fast as normal for outbound transits. The ship crossed under the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, which authorities had already evacuated as a precaution.
The award citation read, “Pilot Thornton’s efforts were nothing short of miraculous and directly saved lives, property, and the marine environment,” the Coast Guard said in a news release. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Douglas Schofield presented Thornton with the award in late June.
A Meritorious Public Service Award is the second-highest public service award given by the Coast Guard. According to the service, it recognizes “those who have accomplished one or more of the following: unusual courage in advancing a Coast Guard mission; substantial contribution to the Coast Guard that produced tangible results; and specific individual accomplishments that provide unique benefits to the public.”
W. Crayton Walters III, president of the Charleston Branch Pilots Association, said in a statement that the association appreciated the recognition.
“Our mission requires us to be prepared for the unexpected, and in this case, our pilot and our staff applied our training and experience to avert a potentially very serious situation that would have impacted the community and the port,” Walters said, noting that the Coast Guard and local authorities provided key support during the incident.