VLIELAND

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Vlieland saved broken down tanker

On Oct 30, 2011, the "Vlieland” received a telex of the MRCC Monrovia requesting to look out for a missing tanker. The tug which was in Buchanan at that time found the ship short time later in position 05.19 N 009.15 W. The "St. Paul River", a converted trawler now used for supply purposes, had suffered a broken turbo and neither had the crew VHF radio or mobile phone working. Hampered by heavy swell, the "St. Paul River" was taken in tow towards the port of Greenville.

Tug escaped pirate attack in the darkness

The tug "Vlieland" which had just delivered the self propelled tank barge "Somtrans VI" to Lagos proceeded to a position 60 miles off the port before bunkering on Oct 25, 2011, in Lome, in a distance of four miles from the freighter "Varedi". In the evening of Oct 23 the crew remarked a boat approaching the ships and stoping in a distance of five miles. Then four skiffs speeded away from what had been thought to be a fisherman, three went towards the "Varedi" and closed in to the "Vlieland". The enginee of the tug was started as a precaution, and short time later a wooden skiff with 8 to 10 men on board armed with gunsclosed in. The tug crew gave warning shots, and the engine was put to full power, as the PAG tried to chase the tug, but due to rough seas and strong winds the tug was able to escape in the darkness. Short time little later the "Varedi" sent Mayday calls as the pirates were climbing aboard in position 005,45.10 00,215.05 N E. The call was followed by gun shooting, then the communication broke off. The "Vlieland" fled towards Ghana waters abd trued to contact the local coastguard and Lagos port, however, with no response. Its crew of four was not injured.