What Crew Members Say About Bull

On August 30, 2013, the tanker 'Helga Spirit' played a vital role in rescuing a German couple stranded on their 16-meter ketch, 'Nada Brahma', about 650 nautical miles southwest of Dakar in the Atlantic Ocean. Built in 1973 by Hattecke & Son, the 'Nada Brahma' was owned by Dr. Thomas Frank and was registered in Hamburg. The couple encountered life-threatening conditions during a fierce storm that left their vessel with shredded sails, a malfunctioning engine, and a broken boom. In a desperate bid for help, they contacted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Bremen via satellite phone at 9:30 a.m., detailing their dire situation as they drifted eastward in turbulent waters. The MRCC promptly alerted their counterparts in Dakar and dispatched distress signals to vessels in the vicinity. Responding swiftly, the 'Helga Spirit,' which was en route from Rio de Janeiro, changed course and headed towards the distressed yacht. By 1:30 p.m., the tanker had arrived at the scene and successfully rescued the couple, who were thankfully unharmed but shaken. Unfortunately, the 'Nada Brahma' was deemed unseaworthy and had to be left behind. The position of the abandoned yacht was communicated to the MRCC in Dakar for further action. After completing the rescue mission, the 'Helga Spirit' resumed its journey to Castellón, where it was expected to arrive on September 7.