Dramatic sea emergency: Sailing yacht saved in Cuxhaven after collision!

Dramatic sea emergency: Sailing yacht saved in Cuxhaven after collision!

On the morning of October 3, 2024, an important holiday in Germany, there was a collision between a cargo ship and a sailing yacht in the North Sea. This unplanned encounter meant that two sea rescue cruisers from the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecker (DGZRS) were used and were on duty for hours. The badly damaged sailing yacht was finally dragged to Cuxhaven, and fortunately both the skipper of the yacht and the crew of the cargo ship remained unharmed.

At 6:40 a.m., the Cuxhaven traffic center alerted the Maritime Rescue Co-Organization Center (MRCC) in Bremen. The incident occurred near the ton of 5 on the outer same, about five nautical miles west-northwest of the uninhabited island of Scharhörn. The cargo ship involved was the "Lotta", an 89 meter long coastal motor ship under Cypriot flag, which was traveling from Rouen (France) to Klaipeda (Lithuania). The "Lotta" remained almost undamaged, while the 9.5 meter long sailing yacht, on the way to Norderney, suffered considerable damage to the fuselage and the rigging.

use of the sea rescuers

The two sea rescue cruisers, Anneliese Kramer and Hermann Marwede, were quickly sent to the accident. Previously, another sailing yacht had arrived to secure the damaged boat and prevent a beach on the nearby Scharhörn reef. Especially in such moments, the importance of professional support from the sea rescuers shows.

The daughter boat Verena, which belongs to Hermann Marwede, maneuvered in the northeastern wind and waves of about one meter to the damaged yacht. A sea rescuer took over the care of the sailing skipper, which was obviously taken away by the events. After a mast break, the sail was in the water so that it counteracted a greater water slump and thus prevented worse things. However, a large hole still protruded about two hand width above the waterline on the side of the fuselage.

After the situation was stabilized, the yacht was handed over by the daughter boat Mathias of the Anneliese Kramer to the sea rescue cruiser. At around 12:20 p.m., the towing association finally reached Cuxhaven. The skipper did not need medical care, and both the police and the sailor mission then took over the further care about him.

The events of this fateful collision not only underline the challenges that can be mastered at sea, but also the willingness and use of the sea rescue services, prioritize life rescue in emergencies. Details can also be found on Clinsiel.de . The quick reaction and the effective cooperation of the crews have contributed to the fact that worse consequences for the skipper and the yacht could be prevented.