Ship carrying boats listing and abandoned in the Norwegian Sea

[ShaneAtSea]

Does anyone have a tow rope?

The Dutch cargo transporter ship Eemslift Hendrika is currently adrift off Norway after developing a heavy list amid rough seas last night.

All 12 crewmembers were safely evacuated by helicopter, as this footage released by the Norwegian Rescue Coordination Centre shows, leaving the boat’s precious cargo at the mercy of the North Sea.

The boats left on board the Eemslift Hendrika include two workboats, a sailing yacht and a sportscruiser-style motorboat, which appears to be an early Sunseeker Predator 68 (estimated value in excess of £300,000).

The situation looks perilous, with Norwegian Coastal Administration project manager Hans Petter Mortensholm telling local broadcaster NRK: “There is a risk that the vessel may capsize and sink. The vessel has [350 tonnes of] heavy oil on board and [50 tonnes of] diesel.”

 

[Stemar]

Since proper salvage tugs no longer exist outside China and Japan, a salvor will probably charter an anchor handling tug and put their people and equipment aboard her.

Have the Abeille Languedoc and sister ships been decommissioned? They used to cover the Channel from Cherbourg and, IIRC, Brest for years

 

[BruceK]

You first.

 

[Portofino]

Windy 58 the sports boat .They should have got that off , made a great rescue boat away .

 

[Concerto]

Since proper salvage tugs no longer exist outside China and Japan, a salvor will probably charter an anchor handling tug and put their people and equipment aboard her.

The Princess tug is the nearest and now 56 miles away. Perhaps negotiations are still on going as her speed has reduced to 3 knots and heading nearly due north or taking the salvage team onboard from a helicopter.

 

[Bouba]

Dutch crew rescued from 'near-capsize'

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Just wondering what the escape format would have been prior to the invention of
helicopters.

Perhaps a lifeboat firing a line if desperate . Then pick your swell moment and slide down coat hanger style. Trying to launch a lifeboat would be a challenge.

Question 1. Would you have done any of the above ?

Question 2. Would you access one of the powerboats and wait for a sinking ?

Question 3. None of the above I would ............................................

 

[Kukri]

They had a perfectly good free fall lifeboat available - you can see it in the video clips.

 

[dom]

They had a perfectly good free fall lifeboat available - you can see it in the video clips.

Agreed, several of them. I quite fancy that AQS workboat job, although the sailing yacht might be more familiar.

Something for everyone!

 

[Concerto]

It seems the PRINCESS tug has been chartered by the salvage company. It is heading for the EEMSLIFT HENDRIKA at 7.5 knots and is now only 23 miles away.

 

[westernman]

They had a perfectly good free fall lifeboat available - you can see it in the video clips.

It seems not to have been used. Or is there a second one which was used?

 

[Kukri]

It seems not to have been used. Or is there a second one which was used?

There will be just the one. I expect it was quicker and more comfortable to travel by helicopter.

 

[westhinder]

There are two Norwegian offshore supply vessels heading to the Hendrika as well as the Belgian anchor handling tug

 

[chrishscorp]

AIS showing BB Ocean and Normand Drott both arrived on scene

 

[Bajansailor]

Here she is on Marinetraffic - EEMSLIFT HENDRIKA (General Cargo) Registered in Netherlands - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 9671486, MMSI 244790047, Call Sign PCYX

Currently heading south at 1.7 knots.
Three tugs in the vicinity, but none of them appear to have got a line on to her yet.

 

[JumbleDuck]

There will be just the one. I expect it was quicker and more comfortable to travel by helicopter.

Up to what angle of heel with a free-fall lifeboat fall free?

 

[Gary Fox]

Youtube channel Redningsselkapet (their lifeboats) has some great footage of the hi-ine rescue from the helo.

 

[Kukri]

Up to what angle of heel with a free-fall lifeboat fall free?

A pretty big one. Side rollers in the guides. Otherwise you would never get the boat back after a practice drop.

 

[JumbleDuck]

A pretty big one. Side rollers in the guides. Otherwise you would never get the boat back after a practice drop.

Thanks.

 

[Kukri]

I always enjoy a friend’s description of a free fall drop. Once everyone is seated (facing aft, head against back rest, seat straps tight, arms crossed and holding straps) the coxswain uses a hand pump to pressurise the hydraulic release. As he does so there is always complete silence in the boat... my friend says “You could hear a pin drop as the release clicks open - except of course the pin would not be dropping, relative to the boat!”

Huge fun! To settle an argument with the then Fleet Manager of P&O Bulk, who said he wouldn’t get into one, I took my then six year old son for a drop - he enjoyed it too!