OTTO DIERSCH

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Lifeboat saved small island ferry with 12 people on board

In stormy winds of eight Beaufort, the 'Otto Diersch' of the DGzRS station Norddeich was alerted in the evening of Feb 17, 2023, after tThe small island ferry "Töwi II" had been pushed onto a dam off the port got stuck and was at great risk. At around 6:10 p.m., the MRCC in Bremen was notified, that the boat was distressed bout half a nautical mile from the Norddeich harbour entrance. The fast ferry had suffered engine problems on the way to Juist. The blustery west-northwest wind pushed it aground. There were two crew members and ten passengers on board. A sister boat attempted to tow it free and failed. Both small ferries collided with each other and were additionally damaged. However, the other boat was able to reach Norddeich with own power shortly afterwards. The 'Otto Diersch' was on scene just 20 minutes after its crew was alerted. The swell constantly smashed over the two dams, with waves about five feet height, so the rescuers had to approach the distressed vessel extremely carefully. The 'Otto Diersch' was turned with the bow to the wind and the stern to the guide dam in order to be able to quickly get free if necessary. The crew of the small ferry boat only managed to connect the towing lines on the fourth attempt due to the rough seas, while the stormy wind kept lifting the distressed vessel out of the water and pressing it onto the dangerous rocks again. The lifeboat freed the "Töwi II" with caution. Fortunately, no water ingress could be detected, and it was towed to Norddeich. In the east port, vessel was secured at its regular berth. The MRCC had ordered an ambulance to be on the safe side, but the ten passengers and the two crew members escaped unscathed. With the support of a crew member of the lifeboat 'Hans Hackmack', currently at the station Norderney, which had meanwhile arrived in Norddeich, the ferry was hauled to a slipway in order to be lifted ashore with a crane. Report with photo: https://www.seenotretter.de/aktuelles/seenotfaelle/seenotretter-befreien-kleine-inselfaehre-von-gefaehrlichem-leitdamm