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.
The sinking Dario.
The life raft and the Dario.
Captain Halle Torn Gundersen on the bridge of the Prinsendam maneuvering the Prinsendam alone side the life raft.
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.