MS World Voyager cruise ship rescued a small sailing boat in distress.
The crew of the liner provided assistance to 4 distressed mariners on December 13th, while crossing the Atlantic ocean.
At the time of the SOS call the yacht with one Austrian and 3 Moroccan nationals was ~100 NM north of World Voyager and Captain Vincent van Zijderveld decided to help the distressed boat as quickly as possible.
After an announcement, the captain changed the course of the World Voyager to provide assistance. Once getting close enough to the vessel, the crew launched Zodiac and transferred the mariners onboard the cruise ship where they received water, food, and medical treatment in the infirmary.
The Nicko Cruises-operated (Mystic-owned) expedition cruise ship World Voyager is due to arrive at the port of Bridgetown (Barbados) on Friday, December 16th, where the 4 mariners will be handed over to the authorities.
The sailing boat navigated by the 65-year-old skipper Helmut W. set course for Cape Verde after setting sail from Spain when the engine died, and the front sail tore apart. Helpless, the four mariners have been drifting for 2 weeks. After the last battery left, the skipper called his son by radio, and the rescue operation was set in motion. The men had not eaten for 10 days and had been drinking their last reserves of water.
For more World Voyager incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.