A trio of Swedish boatmen recently dodged almost certain doom in the Atlantic thanks to the mariners from a Seafarers-crewed vessel.Kenneth E. Lind, 54; his brother Daniel, 19; and Jan G. Lindholm, 44, during the early morning hours of March 29 were rescued from the sea some 218 miles northwest of Bermuda by Seafarers aboard the SIU-contracted Lykes Motivator. The three liberated sailors earlier had departed Bermuda and charted their course for the Azores. Their ultimate destination was Sweden.
Not long after weighing anchor and reaching the open sea, they found themselves at the mercy of the deep. Their vessel, the 37-foot S/V Aurora, lost its ability to maneuver due to a badly damaged mast. Seas at the time reportedly were 12-15 feet and the winds were squalling in excess of 30 knots. The vessel eventually began taking on water and, to make matters worse, two of the three men on board became ill.
“A strong fontal line also was forecasted to pass through the area within the next four to six hours,” stated AB Brett Sunderland, one of many Motivator crew members who would figure in the Swedish mariners’ fate before the following day’s end.
After assessing their situation as ominous and their chances for survival lean without timely assistance, the troubled sailors shortly before midnight March 28 radioed a distress message to the National Rescue Control Center (RCC) Goteborg back in their homeland (Sweden). Around 2 a.m. March 29, the Swedish rescue officials made contact with their American counterparts at the U.S. Coast Guard RCC Norfolk. Minutes later and following a thorough exchange of information, the situation officially was handed off to the Americans for action.
Officials at RCC Norfolk at 2:10 a.m. contacted the Motivator with instructions to change course and hasten to the assistance of the Aurora. The distressed vessel at the time was located at position 343.897N 0608.981W. The Motivator, which was returning to the U.S. after making its usual run to Northern Europe, was situated some five hours away from the Aurora’s location when the order to change course was received. Other vessels in the area, especially those that might be closer than five miles to the Aurora’s position, also were tasked to keep sharp lookouts and assist if possible.
Motivator Capt. Richard Johnson immediately altered his course and steamed toward the Aurora. Some five hours later at daybreak, the sailboat was spotted and the captain readied his crew for rescue operations. At this juncture, the Aurora reportedly was listing badly on its starboard side, still taking on water and its fragile mast steadily absorbing supplementary damage.
When the endangered sailors saw the Motivator, they began preparing themselves to abandon ship. Clad in rain suits, they managed to lower their small rubber dinghy into the water and secure and start its engine. Next, they began to shuttle some of their personal gear and equipment to the Motivator where it was winched aboard by the crew. Following the last run, the three sailors came along side the Motivator for extraction. At this point, because of the rough seas, the small dinghy nearly capsized, throwing one of the passengers (Lindholm) overboard.
“He swiftly drifted aft,” said Sunderland. “By the quick response of the crew, we were able to retrieve him by using the ships’ crane before he slipped under.”
“We almost lost him,” Captain Johnson noted. “He was having trouble staying afloat because his suit was filling up with water.” Reacting instantly, the Motivator crew lowered a basket into the water by crane and hoisted Lindholm to safety. The Lind brothers later were brought aboard without further incident.
After the three sailors safely were aboard, examined and attended to, the Lykes Motivator resumed its course for the United States. As it departed the area, the Aurora’s mast could be seen being ripped completely off, and it soon succumbed to the sea.
Seafarers aboard the Motivator during the rescue were: Bosun James McRevy; ABs Michael Weber, John Saturday, Jerome Williams, Richard O’ Brien and Brett Sunderland; Electrician Chavalier Maycock; DEMAC Alcido Lopes; Wiper Willie Clemmons; Chief Steward Walter Darensbourg; Chief Cook Francisco Da Cruz and GSU Clifton Washington.
###
Printer Friendly Page
