Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Theo

In a significant ruling on October 14, 2016, a court handed a 29-year-old fisherman a sentence of 180 hours of community service following a tragic maritime incident that occurred in 2013. The fisherman was found responsible for a collision with the guard ship 'De Maria' that resulted in the deaths of three sailors, including two from the Philippines and one from Indonesia. The court determined that the fisherman, who was in control of the vessel at the time of the accident, failed to maintain proper vigilance regarding the presence of the other ship. The investigation revealed that other factors, such as excellent visibility, calm seas, and properly functioning equipment, were not contributing elements to the collision.

In the early hours of October 7, a tragic maritime incident unfolded as the Texel-based vessel 'Vertrouwen- TX 68' collided with the Dutch guard ship 'Maria' around 1:30 a.m. The 'Maria', tasked with safeguarding an oil drilling platform, sank quickly—within 20 minutes—at a depth of 25-30 meters, approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Den Helder. Out of the five crew members aboard the 'Maria', two were swiftly rescued by the 'Vertrouwen'; however, three others—two Filipino nationals and one Indonesian—remained unaccounted for and were likely trapped within the sinking vessel. Survivors last spotted them near a door on the upper deck amidst the chaos. In response to the emergency, a comprehensive search operation was initiated, spearheaded by the Dutch Coastguard, featuring KNRM rescue boats from Den Helder, Egmond aan Zee, Wijk aan Zee, and De Cocksdorp, along with the ZrMs 'Snelliu', two helicopters (an AB-412 from the Air Base Leeuwarden and a Cougar-transport helicopter from the 300 Squadron), and several commercial and fishing vessels. The cause of the collision is still under investigation, though wind conditions were recorded at SW 2-3. Navy divers subsequently planned underwater searches of the wreck site, which saw the ZrMs 'Cerberus' depart Den Helder carrying a team of divers. By midday, divers inspected the wheelhouse from outside but found no leads, necessitating an assessment of the wreck’s stability before attempting interior exploration. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was also deployed to conduct thorough surveys of the site. After meticulously searching the affected area multiple times, operations at sea were officially called off at 3:30 p.m. The crew members of the 'Vertrouwen' are now being questioned by Dutch authorities as the investigation continues. For further details, visit the Dutch report with photos: http://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/zeevaart/nid19742-opvarenden-uitkijkschip-vermist-op-noordzee.html#

In a tragic incident that unfolded shortly after midnight, the fishing vessel MFV TX-68 was involved in a collision with the guard vessel MARIA. The impact resulted in the sinking of MARIA, and rescue operations are currently underway as several individuals are reportedly still unaccounted for. Authorities are on high alert as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision begin.