This morning, March 22nd, when we were on route from Funchal, Madeira to Portimao, Portugal, the bridge received a distress call that a boat with eight people was sinking and that the crew were abandoning the ship. Captain Gundersen immediately changed the course of the Prinsendam and the ship sailed at full-speed to the given position. When we arrived at the scene we found out that it was a fishing boat out of Funchal named Dario. The freighter Ecuador Star was already in the area and the crew of the sinking fishing boat was at that moment moving into a life raft. After consulting with the Portuguese Coast Guard it was decided that Prinsendam would take the rescued crew on board and the Coast Guard would send a helicopter to transport them to shore.
Captain
Bravo
Bob Clerk
well done – that’s very good to know Holland america can rescue people if needed
Well done to Officers and crew, did you use a RIB?
John
Master Mariner (retired)
Sorry about previous question, I see you actually went alongside using thrusters etc
Johny
great job… it is what we call signature of excellence – service all the time
Great job Captain Gundersen! That was a good ending for a drama at sea. I am a travel agent with a client currently on the Prinsendam, and so happy that all ended well for the Portguese fishermen.
News of the rescue (in Portuguese) here:
http://www.emfa.pt/www/detalhe.php?cod=035.769
and here:
http://www.tvi.iol.pt/videos/programa/4295/156659/13598153 (news at 21:44, rescue footage at 22:44)
It’s extremely nice to see this type of humanity exists even on a profit making cruise line. I hope the captain, and all those on board that were part of the rescue were recognized internally at Holland America. I sure do take my hat off for them. Well Done.
I enjoyed the Blog. I also like the idea of “Roll Call”, I don’t like (or trust) Facebook. Is there any way that you can get “Roll Call” on this Blog? Or gmail+? I learned the hard way, as have many others, that Facebook leaves one open to all sorts of undesirables.