In celebration of International Day of the Seafarer (June 25), the Instituto Cultural Marinha Mercante (IC) held its first official decoration ceremony, dedicated to honoring major leaders and institutions that drive Brazil's strategic development in the Oil, Gas, Offshore, Energy and Energy Transition sectors.
During the ceremony, the Medal of Honor for Merit in Oil, Gas & Energy Transition was awarded to prominent leaders in the represented sectors. The medal, which is part of a limited series of ten units, was produced by Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint), making it an almost exclusive piece with historical significance.
As a symbolic and institutional milestone, Commendation No. 01 will be permanently enshrined in the Instituto Cultural Marinha Mercante's permanent collection. The official die (metal mold used by the Brazilian Mint to produce the commendation) was destroyed during the ceremony, symbolizing the definitive end of production of the inaugural edition and guaranteeing its historical exclusivity.
Among those honored are:
- Tomé Franca – Minister of Ports and Airports;
- Fleet Admiral Wladmilson Borges de Aguiar - Advisor to the Commander of the Brazilian Navy on Maritime Authority Matters;
- Federal Circuit Judge Theophilo Miguel - Director-General of the Federal Justice Cultural Center;
- Magda Chambriard - President of Petrobras;
- Artur Watt - Director-General of the National Agency of Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels;
- Veronica Coelho – President of Equinor Brasil;
- Cristiano Pinto da Costa - President of Shell Brasil;
- Thomas Filipponi - CEO of SLB Brasil;
Tomé Franca regretted not being present at the event but thanked for the honor received. "Being recognized by such a special institution, dedicated to the Merchant Marine, to ports and to the Ocean Economy, is an honor that truly touches me. [...] Congratulations to all the awardees! May this medal be recognition of what has already been done and the incentive for me to do even more."
In addition to the decorations, six Institutional Motions of Applause were granted to organizations and individuals who have been significantly contributing to the strengthening of Brazil's maritime, energy and offshore sectors.
The Motion of Applause represents an institutional recognition of prestige, granted to companies and organizations that stand out for their strategic contribution to the development of energy, the offshore industry, sustainability and energy transition in Brazil.
The president of Instituto Cultural Marinha Mercante, Andrea de Fátima, stated that professionals in the Merchant Marine and the oil, gas and energy industry drive the economy, ensure energy security, promote innovation and connect Brazil to the world. However, many of their protagonists remain little known to society.
"In recognizing these leaders, the Institute contributes to giving visibility to trajectories of merit built with discipline, competence, dedication and spirit of service. More than honoring people and companies, we are valuing principles that have always characterized Brazil's Merchant Marine: professionalism, resilience, responsibility and commitment to national development," she states.
Regarding the legacy the event hopes to leave, the Institute's president states that "the ceremony is not merely the presentation of a medal. It is the affirmation of a collective identity. The birth of a tradition. The construction of a permanent institutional memory. From Merchant to Merchant."
About the Institute
Instituto Cultural Marinha Mercante is a cultural and museological institution dedicated to the valorization of the Merchant Marine, the Ocean Economy and ocean culture. With strategic action in the maritime, offshore, oil and gas, port logistics, energy and sustainability sectors, the Institute connects culture, industry, innovation and national development, promoting institutional relations among business leaders, public authorities and the diplomatic corps.
The IC positions itself as a platform for maritime cultural diplomacy and institutional visibility, strengthening Brazil's role in global agendas linked to the ocean, energy and sustainable development.
