Discover the Wylde-Swan: Ratings & Maritime News

On April 24, the tall ship 'Wylde Swan' is anticipated to arrive back in Harlingen following an unexpected transatlantic journey. This voyage was embarked upon by 25 Dutch students, aged between 14 and 17, who initially flew from Amsterdam at the beginning of March for a six-week sailing experience in the Caribbean organized by the Masterskip organization. Their adventure was to take them from Sint Maarten to Cuba, where they had originally planned to catch their return flight. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly unfolded, various ports began to close, rendering both the voyage and the return flights impossible. With staying in Sint Maarten being unfeasible due to the region's fragile healthcare infrastructure, the pupils, accompanied by four teachers and a crew of 12, made the decision to return via the STS across the Atlantic, covering an impressive distance of approximately 4,500 nautical miles. The journey saw the 'Wylde Swan' dock at Horta on April 8, but encountered a setback on April 21 when the ship sustained engine damage just three miles southeast of Chesil Beach, Dorset. After a six-hour repair effort, the ship set sail once again, now on the final leg of its remarkable journey home.

In a remarkable display of maritime rescue efforts, a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen crew utilized a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to execute a medical evacuation of a 16-year-old girl aboard the sailing vessel "Wylde Swan" on the morning of March 17, 2014. This incident unfolded approximately 85 nautical miles east of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The Dutch national faced urgent medical issues while onboard the voyage, prompting the crew of the Wylde Swan to request assistance just after 10:30 p.m. on March 16. Swift action was taken by the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center, which dispatched the helicopter crew that was patrolling nearby waters. Upon arrival at the scene, the skilled aircrew deployed their rescue swimmer to the vessel to evaluate the girl's condition. Following a thorough assessment, she was safely secured in the helicopter’s rescue basket, alongside the ship's nurse, before being hoisted aboard. The Coast Guard helicopter then transported the young patient to the Saint Thomas Airport, where emergency medical personnel awaited. From there, she was quickly transferred to the Schneider Regional Medical Center for further treatment and care. This life-saving mission exemplifies the commitment and expertise of the U.S. Coast Guard in responding to maritime emergencies.

On July 14, a significant recovery operation concluded with the discovery of the body of Koen Van Gogh, a Dutch engineer associated with the vessel 'Wylde Swan'. The tragic recovery occurred at noon, when the body was located within the depths of the sunken ship 'Wyvern' by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployed from the patrol boat 'Triton - KBV 002'. This unfortunate event follows the earlier localization of the 'Wyvern' wreckage by the Swedish Coast Guard on July 13 at approximately 4:30 p.m., situated at a depth of 50 to 55 meters. Following the recovery, the Swedish Coast Guard is preparing to hand over the body to local police authorities for further investigations. For additional details and visuals, refer to the Swedish Coast Guard’s report available at http://www.kustbevakningen.se/sv/granslos-samverkan/nyhetsarkiv/saknad-seglare-hittad/