Captain Holger: Rescuing crew of sunk vessel all in a day's work
Stabroek News
January 13, 2007
Wiegand Holger
Captain Wiegand Holger of bauxite company Oldendorff Carriers said he was "very happy" to assist in the rescue of the MV Telltale N0 1's 11 crew members after the vessel sunk in the Berbice River on Wednesday morning.
Holger told Stabroek News, from his office at Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam office, that Director of the Maritime Administration Department Stephen Thomas and Harbour Master V Skeete called him at about 6 am on Wednesday to ask for assistance since the vessel was experiencing some problems. He said he immediately called the captain of one of the company's tugboats, Captain McCallum of the Luebeck, and other workers who were out at sea and instructed them to proceed to the Berbice River in search of the vessel.
Shortly after he said McCallum reported that he saw a "red flare" and he instructed him to proceed to the location. He said he then sent out a pilot boat named Maria B to help in the search. At about 7.30 pm, Holger said, the captain told him that he saw one person floating on a life raft and seven other on a life boat. McCallum also reported that the crew members had told him that three persons were still missing but they were found on another life raft close by and were rescued by another vessel, Canada Club.
Holger said he instructed the captain of the Maria B to collect the three persons from the Canada Club and take them, along with the seven, to the New Amsterdam stelling. The crew also recovered the life rafts but cannot say what became of the life boat.
The owner of the cargo vessel met the crew at the stelling and took them to Georgetown. A Government Information Agency press release had said that the vessel was privately owned and was transporting 1,552 tonnes of fertilizer for the Guyana Sugar Corporation at the time.
As for the role he played Holger said, "that was my work." He also extended best wishes to the seamen and their families saying, "I am glad that they survived."