On Monday afternoon, the Bremen Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received an emergency call from Wismar Bay. The skipper of a motor yacht reported that his vessel had run aground on the Lieps shoal between Boltenhagen and the Poel peninsula and was stuck. Shortly afterwards, it also became clear that the vessel was apparently taking on water as a result of the grounding.
According to a statement from the DGzRS, at the time of the incident a north-easterly wind of force six was blowing in the area, with speeds of up to 49 kilometres per hour. There were two women, two men and a dog on board the motor yacht.
Attempts to recover the vessel have been unsuccessful
Rescue crews initially attempted to tow the yacht free. However, due to its weight and the fact that it was firmly stuck, they were unable to do so. The ingress of water further exacerbated the situation.
The crew of the rescue cruiser therefore decided to bring the motorboat occupants on board. They were taken to Weiße Wiek. In the evening, the Boltenhagen Volunteer Fire Brigade inspected the stricken vessel. As no water pollution was detected, no further salvage attempts were necessary. It is now up to the owner, or rather their insurance company, to remove the vessel from the sandbank.
Nothing is yet known about the reasons for the stranding.
Pascal Schürmann
Editor YACHT
