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Tug in trouble off Scheveningen

In the night of June 16, 2018, the "Hans" towing a pontoon got in difficulty 11 miles from the coast of Scheveningen. Due to rudder problems, the crew had to let the towing wire go. The 40-meter-pontoon was unloaded and went adrift in a northerly direction with the wind and the current. At 12:20 a.m. the KNRM station Scheveningen was alerted, and 10 minutes later the lifeboat "Kitty Roosmale Nepveu" left for the position given by the Coastguard. The vessel "VOS Star", which was nearby, was asked to monitor the "Hans" and the barge on radar. At 1 a.m. the lifeboat was on the spot. and the Coast Guard, which coordinated the operation, requested the crew to follow the barge. On the tug, a emergency rudder had already been fixed, and she also headed for the barge. The crew of the "Hans" undertook some attempts to establish a towing connection again, but because of the strong wind with force 6 and waves of about two meters failed to do so. The lifeboat was asked to assist and took a towing line from the tug to the barge. Ater a few attempts this line could be attached to the barge. The line was then connected to a buoy so that the "Hans" could it pick up. At 2:40 a.m. on board the tug, the line could be attached to the steel wire on the winch. Then the tug with the barge set course towards Hoek van Holland. At the request of the Coast Guard, the lifeboat stayed on standby and guided it. At 04.45 a.m. a pilot came aboard the "Hans", and the patrol boat "RPA 15" joined the convoy. The "Kitty Roosmale Nepveu" could be released and returned to Scheveningen where she safely moored at 5.30 a.m. at the KNRM pontoon. Dutch report with photos: https://www.knrm.nl/nieuws/knrm-reddingstation-scheveningen/sleepboot-hans-met-sleep-in-problemen