Ship with Lakes ties rescues 19 Thai seafarers

Published on 17/08/2007

A BRITISH merchant ship, named after Kendal, has been involved in a dramatic rescue operation in the South China Sea after a Thai cargo ship sank in heavy seas.

Two British ships carried out the rescue and between them saved 19 Thai seafarers.

The rescue operation began on August 8, when the UK flagged ship Maersk Kendal — a brand-new vessel only 15 days into her first voyage on the Asia-Europe shipping route — picked up a distress call from the Pailin Maritime, a small Thai cargo ship carrying logs from the Solomon Islands to Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam.

Although more than 200 miles away, the Maersk Kendal — named after the Lake District town – altered course and set full speed, and was the first ship to arrive at the scene.

After searching for more than four hours lookouts spotted a couple of empty lifejackets.

By now a second British ship, the Rio Imperial managed by Zodiac Maritime of London and en route to Singapore, had arrived at the scene and assisted with the search operation.

“The whole crew was amazing in their preparedness and willingness to get involved,” said Captain Wostenholme, who has sailed with Maersk since April 1986.

“Everything they did was carried out professionally and as a team.

“It was the longest day — and perhaps their finest thus far — in their lives.”

nwemail.co.uk

kudos Cpt'n and crew .

a thai boat sinking?! gasp- never!

Respect.

I've spent over thirty years at sea and it's not a nice place when the proverbial hits the fan in lumpy weather.