As of 17 August, the Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschapij (KNRM), the equivalent of the DGzRS, has announced that they will only go out automatically and immediately after being alerted by Den Helder Rescue in the event of danger to life and limb. However, if ships or yachts are in an unfortunate but not dangerous situation, the skipper must provide assistance himself. Den Helder Rescue, the MRCC of the Netherlands, is then not responsible for the organisation and handling.
The skipper must then hire a salvor himself. This is chargeable. This can also be the KNRM, which then moves out at a suitable time by arrangement and for an agreed salvage fee, or an independent contractor who tows the yacht free, provides starting assistance, brings fuel and also tows the damaged vessel into the harbour.
IMPORTANT: In the event of an emergency at sea, i.e. if there is or could be danger to life and limb, the alarm is raised in the Netherlands as before via channels 10 or 16, the KNRM-HELPT-APP (red button), via 112 or the telephone number 0900-0111 (only possible from Dutch telephones). The KNRM then deploys as usual.
A distinction is therefore made between rescue and recovery. This means that anyone who gets stuck on the Vrouwezand in calm weather and can no longer be rescued without assistance gets away, must provide assistance himself. However, if the swell is high there and the ship is in danger of sinking, the KNRM is again responsible. If you break down off Enkhuizen in light winds with a clogged diesel filter, you can sail into the harbour. However, if this happens in the Texel Current without wind and there is a risk of drifting into the ferry line to Texel, the situation is quite dangerous. The skipper should be able to make this judgement.
The measure was apparently necessary because the KNRM was repeatedly called out for comparatively trivial missions in the past. Volunteer crew members have to leave their jobs or their families to go on easily avoidable missions. Just think of clogged fuel filters due to negligent maintenance or running aground on perfectly buoyed shoals. This situation was no longer acceptable.
The KNRM will continue to help in such cases, but not necessarily immediately, but by arrangement, for example after the crew has finished work. If you want to call the KNRM for a rescue, you can also do this via the KNRM-HELPT-APP (green button) or by calling 0031/592 390 451. It's the same as on the road: if you have a flat tyre, you don't call the fire brigade, you call the ADAC. Somehow logical.
