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29th Dec 2015
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ship Braemar has come to the aid of a sailing yacht marooned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, with the dramatic rescue of the 14-metre Nicollet and her four Polish passengers and crew.
The vessel had been adrift for nearly three days.
Fred. Olsen’s 929-guest Braemar was cruising from Santa Cruz, Tenerife to Bridgetown, Barbados, at a speed of 16.2 Knots, when the officer of the watch spotted the drifting sailing yacht Nicollet on the radar, positioned in the Atlantic Ocean, ten nautical miles from the cruise ship.
Braemar’s officer contacted the Nicollet to make sure that everything was in order, since the yacht was drifting and no sails were hoisted.
The yacht confirmed that the steering gear was broken and the sea anchor had been deployed.
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The yacht had been drifting for 2.5 days and was en route from Las Palmas to Dominica.
The Nicollet was carrying two passengers, one male and one female, and two male crew members, all of Polish nationality.
The skipper of the sailing yacht requested that the cruise ship take the two passengers on board and supply some material for the necessary repairs to the Nicollet, which the two crew members would carry out.
Captain Bamberg informed Braemar’s guests that the ship would be involved in a rescue operation, and he manoeuvred the ship into position, ready to lower the rescue tender boat.
Tender boat number ten was then launched, with six crew members aboard.
Fred. Olsen’s tender boat number 10 delivered a supply of wood, a hacksaw, two wooden oars and a box of water to the two crew members remaining aboard the stricken Nicollet – although the sailing yacht was equipped with enough food and water to last up to three weeks – and the two passengers were transferred to the tender boat and taken to Braemar.
Following a full security inspection and medical check, it was confirmed that the two passengers were Polish nationals and in good health.
Speaking of the rescue operation, captain Robert Bamberg, master of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Braemar, said: “The sea conditions at the scene were very challenging, with three to five metres of swell, so in order to be able to carry out a rescue operation in such circumstances, everyone must know exactly what to do.
“Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is proud to have a very robust safety culture and procedures in place across its fleet, and my Officers and crew showed true professionalism and knowledge while carrying out this rescue operation.
“We regularly conduct safety drills and practices, but it was great to see such team work, spirit and determination implemented so successfully in a real-life situation.”
Following her rescue by Fred. Olsen’s Braemar and subsequent repairs, the Nicollet was able to continue her voyage to Dominica.
It is expected that the two passengers from the Nicollet will remain on board Braemar until Dominica, where they will re-join the repaired yacht.
Braemar will arrive in Bridgetown, Barbados on December 31st 2015, where she will stay overnight, to see in the New Year in true Caribbean style.
