Late on Monday evening at around 11:45 p.m., the Bremen Rescue Radio emergency call centre received a mayday call via VHF channel 16. A sailing yacht was in distress at sea. At the same time, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) received an emergency call from another crew member via mobile phone. The sailors reported that they had run aground about 500 metres off the eastern tip of the Graswarder near Heiligenhafen. Water was entering the boat.
Rapid response from the emergency services
The incident commanders immediately alerted the volunteer sea rescuers from Heiligenhafen. Thanks to the mobile phone's AML (Advanced Mobile Location) tracking, the position of the stricken yacht could be precisely determined. Just a few minutes later, the rescue boat "Heiligenhafen" reached the scene of the accident. The crew of three - one woman and two men - desperately tried to scoop the water out of the boat with buckets. The situation was critical, as the sailing yacht, which was around ten metres long, was already drifting towards the open sea and threatening to sink.
The rescue operation proved difficult due to the adverse weather conditions. With wind forces of 4 Beaufort, the sea was choppy with waves one and a half metres high. The waves were crashing over the stern of the yacht, which was already partially submerged. The sea rescuers reacted professionally and initially handed over a line to tow the yacht into calmer waters.
Successful recovery
Once the stricken boat had been brought into safer waters, the rescuers were able to go alongside. They deployed a leakage sail and used bilge pumps. The tug and tow set course for the harbour of Heiligenhafen while constantly steering. The Heiligenhafen volunteer fire brigade and the rescue boat "Helene" from the DGzRS station in Fehmarn were called in to assist.
In the harbour, the fire brigade illuminated the scene so that a crane from the local shipyard could lift the damaged vessel out of the water. This revealed the full extent of the damage: the centreboard had been torn off and there were large holes in the damaged area through which the water had penetrated. An emergency doctor from the DGzRS station in Heiligenhafen treated the rescued crew. One of the men suffered a hand injury in the incident and had to be taken to hospital for further treatment. The other two crew members were uninjured.
Immediate measures in the event of water ingress
- Alert crew and assign tasks
- Activate all available pumps
- Start machine for power supply
- Take the journey out of the ship
- Close all seacocks (note exceptions)
- Inform the rescue coordination centre
Systematic leak detection:
- Check neuralgic points: Keel bolts, through-hull passages, rudder cokers
- Use laminated plan with critical points
- Dismantle the removal parts if necessary
- Have an axe, cow foot and hacksaw ready
Leak sealing:
- Attach temporary leakage seal from the outside
- Seal from the inside, e.g. with epoxy or leak plug
- Seal large areas with wedges made of board material
Prevention:
- Intensive safety briefing before departure
- Regular training of emergency rolls and leak defence
- Participation in safety courses
- Regularly maintain and check critical systems
Recommended emergency equipment:
- Manual and electric bilge pump
- Water detector
- Impeller or diaphragm pump with high flow rate
- Softwood plugs for all toe boards
- Axe, crowbar, hammer, saw
- Leak plugs and wedges
- Sealants and underwater epoxy
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