MS Prinsendam (1972)
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | MS Prinsendam |
| Operator | Holland America Line |
| Builder | De Merwede in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Netherlands |
| Cost | $US27 million |
| In service | 1973 |
| Out of service | October 4, 1980 |
| Fate | Sank on October 11, 1980 in the Gulf of Alaska |
| Status | Sunk |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 427 ft (130 m) |
| Capacity | 350 passengers |
| Crew | 200 crew |
MS Prinsendam, a Holland-America liner built at Shipyard de Merwede in the Netherlands in 1973, was 427 feet long and typically carried about 350 passengers and 200 crew members. The liner was sailing through the Gulf of Alaska, approximately 120 miles south of Yakutat, Alaska, at midnight on October 4, 1980, when a fire broke out in the engine room. The vessel’s master, Cornelis Dirk Wabeke (april 13th 1928 - august 16th 2011), declared the fire out of control one hour later and the Prinsendam sent a radio call requesting immediate assistance. The United States Coast Guard at Communications Station Kodiak, Alaska requested that the MS Prinsendam send out an SOS, but the captain declined. Chief Radio Officer Jack van der Zee sent one out anyway about a half hour later, which alerted nearby vessels.[1]
As the ship's location was out of range of United States Coast Guard helicopters, USAF Air Rescue Service helicopters (which have a longer range and can be aerially refueled) airlifted medical officers and pararescue men to the ship and evacuated the injured from the fire prior to other ships reaching the scene to evacuate the passengers and crew.
United States Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard helicopters and the cutters USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719), USCGC Mellon (WHEC-717), and USCGC Woodrush (WLB-407) responded in concert with other vessels in the area. The passenger vessel later capsized and sank. The rescue is particularly important because of the distance traveled by the rescuers, the coordination of independent organizations, and the fact that all 520 passengers and crew were rescued without loss of life or serious injury.[2]
References
- ^ Manuscript log of supertanker Williamsburgh. 4 October 1980, retrieved May 31, 2008, http://www.qsl.net/n1ea/
- ^ "USCG Top 10 Rescues". USCG. 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
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External links
- James Kelly, "A Morning to Remember", Time, October 20, 1980.