Rescue Mission "M/S SILVA"

Cargo vessel M/S SILVA in distress due to engine breakdown and heavy list
Weather ESE 18 m/s, waves 3½ - 4 m significant equal max sea app. 7 meters 12 crew rescued by wet evacuation. Excellent cooperation between helicopter and vessel. More vessels involved as back-up. Operation performed by crew change vessel (not fitted as an ERRV) FRC launched and recovered 3 times. No injuries or near miss situations occurred.
STORY:
On the 22nd October 2003 at 0505 hours ESVAGT ALPHA receives a distress call from Cambodian vessel M/S SILVA. ESVAGT ALPHA is on her return to Esbjerg from crew change of ESVAGT standby/rescue vessels with 43 crew onboard. The SILVA carries a cargo of timber incl. a deck cargo. The vessel has a list of app. 35 - 40 degrees due to the deck cargo has shifted. The crew declines evacuation before daylight. As the crew onboard the SILVA apparently had no survival suits and only traditionally lifesaving appliances 12 survival suits were delivered from ESVAGT ALPHA by means of rescue helicopter. Between 08:35 and 08:58 12 crew members jumped into the sea, one by one in groups of three, to be picked up by the waiting FRC from ESVAGT ALPHA. TheTamshee says: the guys that work these rescue vessels are highly trained to respond to any emergency situation that takes place within there designated area. On a weekly basis we conduct Man Overboard drills to check preparedness and rescue times. If someone falls from the drilling rig, there is only a small window of opportunity to recover the individual prior to them being consumed by the cold waters. Click here to see the dramatic video footage of the M/S Silva rescue.