Crew of a flat-bottomed vessel in distress in the North Sea - sea rescuers had to set sail

Crew in mortal danger in the North Sea - sea rescuers had to set sail! On Thursday, March 28, a four-man crew of a flat-bottomed vessel came into danger - they sailed directly into a sudden storm front! The rough and cold North Sea - this is what a four-man boat crew experienced off Norderney.

On Thursday, March 28, a four-man crew of a flat-bottomed boat found themselves in mortal danger - a storm front was heading straight for them.

The eleven and a half meter long flat-bottomed ship was on its way from a shipyard in Ditzum to the island of Spiekeroog when a thunderstorm front caught them by surprise.

The stopping maneuver initiated shortly afterwards got out of control.

The jib sheet, a sailing line, got caught in the propeller. In swells of up to one meter and outgoing water with a current of around four knots, a fiasco was imminent.

The crew immediately alerted the sea rescuers from the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS). The rescue cruiser "EUGEN" (stationed on Norderney) set sail immediately.

Due to the design of the ship, a rescue was only possible under very difficult conditions. The Dutch fishing vessel with long jib booms had to deploy a towline of around 70 meters.

Fortunately, the DGzRS sea rescuers managed to get the vessel, which weighed around twelve tons, and its crew of four out of the danger zone and safely to Norderney.

According to the DGzRS statement; Everyone involved is doing well,

Picture: Die Seenotretter - DGzRS