Lifeboat Anna Margaretha from the Ballumerbocht rescue station on Ameland experienced a life-threatening situation in 2006. The boat capsized. The Anna Margaretha is a boat of the Arie Visser type, a self-righting boat. Anna Margaretha then resurfaced. The crew arrived ashore in one piece, apart from some scratches, bruises and minor injuries. The story of the capsizing is blood-curdling and a story that ended well.
Capsizing of a lifeboat
- Lifeboat class Arie Visser
- Ships in distress
- Anna Margaretha sets sail
- Waves on the North Sea and ground sea
- Alarm
- Third ground sea
- Coast Guard Center
- Sun position
- Ameland and KNRM worried
Lifeboat class Arie Visser
The Arie Visser class of the KNRM lifeboats can sail at full power for 16 hours. The top speed is 63 kilometers per hour, 34 knots. This type is designed in such a way that it automatically tips over into its normal position in the event of a capsize. The wheelhouse then acts as an air chamber, while the engines and tanks are located at the bottom of the ship. When a capsize occurs, the center of gravity is above the waterline, causing it to roll back. Fortunately, capsizing is rare, but it happened to the Anna Margaretha van Ameland on November 1, 2006. Four crew members experienced a perilous adventure: the lifeboat capsized three times.
Ships in distress
On the night of October 31 to November 1, 2006, the wind above the Wadden Islands increased to hurricane force. In the North Sea and the Wadden Sea, ships look for a safe harbor as quickly as possible. That day a sailing competition is taking place in the Wadden Sea between brown fleet vessels. Several clippers and tjalks run into problems, forcing the lifeboats from Schiermonnikoog and Lauwersoog to take action.
North Sea and Wadden Sea
The ms Cementina is having a hard time in the North Sea. At 2:45 am on November 1, the Cementina is destroyed by an incoming sea . The ship is damaged and the steering gear no longer functions. Due to the problems with the flat-bottomed boats on the Wadden Sea, all lifeboats are in operation. The crew of the Anna Margaretha is called to standby for the Cementina. Skipper Theo Nobel is not present due to family circumstances and deputy skipper Kees de Boer (48) takes his place. Five people get into the boat with him. Two eventually stay in the Ballumerbocht to capture a ship that has gone adrift.
Anna Margaretha sets sail
De Boer sails out together with Jan Hoekstra (43), Pieter Mosterman (23), and Paul Veenstra (28). They already understand that it will be a tough journey. They check extra carefully whether everything in the wheelhouse is secured. The Anna Margaretha sails outwards between Schiermonnikoog and Ameland. The Westgat has a high sea, but the Anna Margaretha passes through it without any problems.
In the meantime, the Maggie M. has arrived at the Cementina, but the captain refuses all help.
Cementina
At 7.07 am the Anna Margaretha arrives at the Maggie M. and Cementina. The lifeboat wants to establish a towing connection between the two ships. The Anna Margaretha tries to transfer the mooring line from the Maggie M. to the Cementina, but the mooring line is too heavy and the heaving line breaks. At 8 a.m. it had not yet been successful and the captain of the Maggie M. felt the situation was becoming too dangerous for his ship and crew. He doesn’t want to make a second attempt. The skipper of the lifeboat considers the options and tries to take one more shot and pull the Cementina headfirst out to sea. The waves are 10 to 12 meters high.
Waves on the North Sea and ground sea
The Maggie M. has now moved several hundred meters away from the Cementina and is confronted with three extremely high, steep and breaking waves. These waves are estimated to be 15 meters high. The Anne Margaretha is then moored alongside the Cementina, ready to cast off. Then they see the crew of the Cementina disappear into the wheelhouse. It is unclear why. Skipper de Boer of the Anna Margaretha blows the ship’s horn to call his crew in for consultation. The wheelhouse door remains open. At that moment the skipper sees a huge sea of ground shoot out from under the Cementina. He shouts another warning to the crew to hold on. The ground sea turns the whole ship upside down.
Alarm
The skipper is in the seat belts, but Jan Hoekstra is loose. He holds on to his chair. Pieter Mosterman and Paul Veenstra are separate. They fly through the wheelhouse. They spin like laundry in a washing machine. The engines stall and there is water in the wheelhouse. The instruments are broken. De Boer first checks whether the crew is still complete and then starts the engines again. An annoying alarm sound sounds through the wheelhouse, but due to a malfunction it cannot be turned off.
Another ground sea
After starting the engines, a second ground sea follows and De Boer shouts a warning for the second time. Then Pieter Mosterman just manages to close the door before the boat rolls again. For the second time the crew is thrown through the wheelhouse.
Third ground sea
When the boat is upright it seems calm. They open the door to dump water and De Boer loosens his seat belt to gain better access to the equipment. He tries to start the engines again, but it is too late to avoid the third ground sea.
Door
Mosterman, who is still holding the door to close it, is thrown outside. Veenstra is just able to pull him in. They roll through the wheelhouse again. De Boer starts the engines for the third time and with only the starboard engine he manages to get the head out to sea and stay in control of the breakers. Part of the crew of the Cementina sees it happen. The Maggie M. has poor visibility of the Anna Margaretha and cannot see the lifeboat after the second capsize due to the high waves.
Coast Guard Center
At the coast guard center in Den Helder, people are eagerly awaiting information about the towing connection. At 8:47 am the Coast Guard Center no longer sees an AIS position on the plot screen. There are fears about the fate of the lifeboat and crew and the alarm is raised. Helicopter and lifeboat support follows from Germany and the rescue helicopter from De Kooij naval air camp in Den Helder receives the alarm. The Maggie M. first wants to retrieve the towing line and then continues to search for the Anna Margaretha.
Instruments broken
In the meantime, Anna Margaretha’s crew has recovered somewhat from the shock and to eliminate the annoying alarm sound, they cut the wiring of the speakers. The tow line is now wound onto the wheelhouse. The VHF antennas, AIS antenna and searchlights are broken.
Sun position
The Anna Margaretha heads towards the open sea, between the Cementina and the tugboat that has now arrived. None of the ships see the lifeboat passing. Once outside the surf, De Boer plots the course based on the position of the sun and the wind direction, because the electric compass also no longer works. It is now 9.30 am and at home and in Den Helder no one knows what happened anymore. The journey home is not easy, visibility is poor and those boarding have to warn the skipper of approaching breakers. The boat is sailed carefully so as not to put too much strain on the engine. After an hour of sailing they pass a ship that they had also seen on the way there. It is still anchored in the same place and they know they are on the right course.
Schiermonnikoog
The way to Schiermonnikoog is quickly found after passing a few identifiable buoys. The boat is smashed a few more times, but no more capsizing follows.
Source: Ameland Press Agency
Ameland and KNRM worried
The home front, the coast guard center and the KNRM in IJmuiden are very worried. There are news reports on the radio and the messages are fueled by new rumors. The KNRM head office in IJmuiden forms a crisis team. At 10.19 am the Brandaris on Terschelling finally receives a redeeming phone call from Pieter Mosterman: his mobile phone in his inner pocket has remained dry and is functioning. At that moment the J-SAR rescue helicopter is hovering above the lifeboat. The Anna Margaretha reported and they were found at the same time. Paul Veenstra is lifted aboard the helicopter: he has a cut in his chin. The three men sail on under their own steam to Lauwersoog, where they arrive at 11.40 am.
,This boat saved our lives,
It is others who complete the action around the Cementina. The Anna Margaretha is thoroughly inspected and taken to Hindeloopen for repairs. The crew talks for a long time. Conclusion: “This boat saved our lives.”
read more
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