Farmar Ares saves disabled fishing boat

Text: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

A Danish fishing vessel had fouled its trawl in the propeller, lost propulsion in strong winds and was drifting helplessly in the main shipping lane.

The tug Farmar Ares was connected and set course south from Farsund to provide assistance.

SHORTLY AFTER departure, a new and urgent alert was received. A cargo vessel had developed a list in poor weather and was taking on water in the cargo hold. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre requested Farmar Ares to alter course towards Fedafjorden, where the vessel was located.

The situation was assessed as serious, and the tug immediately headed for the area.

“These are exactly the kinds of situations we are equipped for. When the weather is at its worst, decisions must be made quickly and accurately,” says Farmar Chief Executive Officer John W. Nilsen.

AFTER ABOUT an hour, the situation on board the cargo vessel was clarified and the need for immediate assistance fell away. Farmar Ares was therefore able to turn back towards the fishing vessel, which was still exposed to the weather in the middle of the Skagerrak.

he tow was established in the afternoon, and course was set for Hanstholm in Denmark.

But the drama was not over.

In the evening, the towing connection on board the fishing vessel failed in the heavy seas. The crews had to re-establish the tow in darkness and challenging conditions.

THIS TIME, the connection held all the way. The fishing vessel was safely delivered to the port of Hanstholm, where divers were standing by to cut the trawl free from the propeller and secure the vessel.

Throughout the entire operation, which took place on 11 December, the deck crew worked with personal protective equipment adapted for extreme weather, including PLTs, enabling them to operate safely on deck in the demanding conditions.

“It is the interaction between experienced personnel, solid procedures and the right equipment that makes such operations possible,” Nilsen says.