Rescue operation after sailing boat collides with anchored ship in fog

The crew of a small sailing boat had to be rescued at sea on Monday morning after colliding with the Stena Drillmax vessel anchored at the Eastern Anchorage due to heavy fog.

Officers at the Gibraltar Port Authority’s Vessel Traffic Services managed to contact the sailing boat, whose crew said the vessel was taking in water.

A search and rescue protocol was immediately launched and the Customs’ vessel, Searcher, was deployed with the assistance of a local service craft, Ultimate Dream, to find the boat in the heavy fog.

Once on the scene, the Captain said his vessel was taking on water but that it was being contained in a watertight compartment at the bow.

The sailing boat followed the rescue vessels to a berth in the port so that the damage could be assessed.
After it was deemed to be in a safe condition, the Captain began making arrangements to repair the boat.