Following a tip-off from another ferry crew, the captain of the ferry "Langeoog IV" had been on the lookout for a small motorboat that was already lying suspiciously deep in the sea. When the crew of the "Langeoog IV", which was on its way from Langeoog to Bensersiel with almost 500 passengers, sighted the motorboat, they immediately realised that the shipwrecked vessel was already sinking. A sailing yacht from Harlesiel had already approached the shipwrecked vessel and tried to secure it with a line. The captain of the "Langeoog IV" manoeuvred the ferry as close as possible to the motorboat in the short, heavy swell.
The fairway runs between the extensive sands of the Wadden Sea. The ferry had to manoeuvre extremely carefully to avoid either endangering the three people on the shipwrecked vessel or getting stuck itself. Initially, it was only possible to throw lines to the people in the sinking cabin cruiser and use them to keep the sinking boat afloat.
From training to use
The water rescuers from the DLRG local groups in Esens and Wittmund actually only wanted to practise their swimming skills in strong currents, wind and heavy seas with the support of two motorised lifeboats between Bensersiel and Langeoog when they noticed the ferry operating at the edge of the fairway, securing the pleasure craft at its bow. A few minutes later, the DLRG emergency services arrived on the scene. The distressed vessel was already almost half full of water.
The large motor lifeboat from Esens went alongside and picked up the three people on the pleasure craft. In the meantime, the captain of the Langeoog ferry had alerted the rescue coordination centre operated by the DGzRS (MRCC Bremen). The volunteer sea rescuers from the Langeoog station and the rescue cruiser from the DGzRS Norderney station were alerted and set out immediately.
Captain of the ferry "Langeoog IV" and rescue companies work together successfully
While the DLRG rescue team brought the castaways to the safe harbour in Bensersiel and the crew of the ferry continued to secure the pleasure craft against sinking, the sea rescuers from Langeoog arrived with the rescue boat "SECRETARIUS". A sea rescuer boarded the distressed vessel and put two submersible pumps into operation. When taking over the distressed vessel from the ferry, the rescue boat pulled a line into the propeller. Due to the enormous tidal current, the divers from the DLRG local group in Wittmund were unable to cut the line free on site. A volunteer sea rescuer from the centre, who was also on site with his own boat, then took the "SECRETARIUS" with the distressed vessel alongside in tow and brought them both to Bensersiel.
There, the damaged pleasure craft was lifted onto a boat trailer with the help of the Esens volunteer fire brigade's crane. The divers freed the "SECRETARIUS" from the line.
Trained paramedics from the DLRG took over the care of the castaways in Bensersiel. After the rescue operation, everyone involved emphasised the excellent cooperation between the ferry crew and the emergency services. Without this excellent co-operation, the outcome of the operation could have been very different.
Territory requires very good knowledge
In this context, the DGzRS and DLRG would like to point out once again that the area of the East Frisian Islands can only be navigated with very good knowledge of the area. Due to the sands and the tidal current, strong swell builds up in the Wadden area even in moderate winds, which can easily be fatal for small boats.
- Note: The sea channels between the islands should only be used by experienced water sports enthusiasts with excellent knowledge of the area.
