The first rescue operation WAS A DEMANDING and valuable experience

The 15th of December was an ordinary day on board the SOV-vessel ESVAGT NJORD that services off-shore wind farms. At 11.30 AM, Frederik Oksholm had just ended his morning shift when he heard a deafening blow. His first thought was that it came from the hatchway, but he was wrong.

On deck, people were moving quickly and the chief officer had his binoculars pointed at a British crab vessel, ”Galwad-Y-Mor”, 22 miles north of Cromer Norfolk in England.

Shortly after, the captain sounded the alarm at ESVAGT and called in the FRBs (fast rescue boats) - but he hadn’t yet sounded the main emergency alarm.

Theory vs reality

”Jeg vidste, hvad min rolle ville være, men jeg havde ikke kunnet forberede mig til virkelighedens voldsomhed,” mener Frederik Oksholm.

Frederik already knew every little detail on the long list of procedures in case of a sudden emergency like this one. As soon as the FRBs hit the Water, the rest of the crew began preparing – without knowing what was to come. How many injured would be brought back? How bad was the damage? Were there any casualties? Frederik remem- bers waiting somewhat chaotic as they prepared everything from facemasks and stretchers to bandages and defibrillators. And soon, the main alarm sounded. The situation was as severe as they had feared.

On the bridge, the crew remained calm and collected, even when no less than seven injured crabbers were brought on board.

An inferno of fire

The sudden explosion had been caused by a collision with a naval mine, which had triggered other explosions on board and damaged the hull. The crew had noticed some difficulties in bringing in their nets, but before they could react, everything disappeared in an inferno of fire, and water lifted the 13-meter vessel out of the water. From there, it dropped back down with a heavy blow.

The blast had thrown the crew off their feet and damaged the wheelhouse. “They were badly hurt, some were in a state of shock, others were unconscious, and there was blood, vomit, wounds, and cries for help in every direction. The situation made a deep impression on me, but I did my best to stay focused. To avoid being overwhelmed by the situation, I tried to oppress my emotions and just assist my more experienced colleagues. This was an absolute state of emergency, and when it ended, I nearly broke down. I was new. This was only my third engagement, and I just wanted to go home for Christmas,” Frederik tells.

First aid

This situation made it obvious why all seafarers are trained in performing first aid at sea and why captains and chief officers must all be certified in AMA (Advanced Medical Aid). On that fatal day, the crew knew how to respond. The chief officer took charge of the injured while the captain coordinated from the bridge. Frederik tried to remember everything he had learned during his theoretical training.

“I learned that doing something is always better than doing nothing, despite my lack of experience. I was aware of my responsibilities, but there is no way to truly prepare for such a situation before it actually happens. For those four hours, we worked intensely with everything we had. We used the blankets from our own cabins, and when the last of the injured had been brought off the ship, I nearly broke down in tears. Talking to my co-workers who had been there with me was helpful. Three of the crabbers were so badly hurt that they had to be picked up by helicopter, and later we were all relieved to hear that they had all survived, although some were permanently injured.”

A time for reflection

After hours of struggling, when the injured crabbers had all been picked up, the crew became aware of a basic need: they were hungry – and, luckily, there was tomato soup and rump steak for everyone. After eating, the crew gathered on the bridge where everyone had a chance to share and talk about what had happened, and how they felt.

“The atmosphere was quiet and thoughtful. People reacted differently, and the gathering gave room to encourage and re- cognize each other. Later, ESVAGT offered everyone therapy and told us that everyone should talk to a counselor for at least five minutes. For those with lots of experience, five minutes was enough, but I was still overwhelmed by emotions that stirred just below the surface, so getting some help to process the experience was important to me. Did I react in the right way? Did I keep others from doing their job? After all, this was my first real rescue operation.”

During those fatal hours, Frederik noticed how everyone was fully focused: “All we thought about was saving lives. We worked together so well, and afterwards, it really lifted our spirits. I wouldn’t have guessed it beforehand, but when the dust had settled it even seemed necessary to joke around with some of these heavy experiences. Humor is also a tool to deal with extreme situations. I also remember the injured skipper asking for a cigarette before we had even begun treating him and while his crew was receiving lots of painkillers to relieve the pain. It was an unusual experience.”

An open mindset

Since the incident, the crew has mostly had calm days at sea. Frederik is now AB and his contract at ESVAGT has been prolonged.

“Perhaps I see myself as an everyday Samaritan,” he says with a smile. “I’ve now experienced how we are all very different, but each of us have something to offer when we need to perform, and afterwards, we can always talk through the situations together as a team. We take care of each other. After this violent incident, I’ve often thought about how my co-workers took care of me and helped me through. Since that day I’ve been on my toes and extra alert, and ,to some extent, I am probably still in a state of shock. But my days are good when I can use an open mindset to translate what I know in theory into practice on board. I often get positive feedback in my current job, and a desk job is definitely not my thing,” Frederik says.

ESVAGT NJORD is an SOV (Service Operation Vessel), serving the Norwegian energy company Equinor’s wind farm off the coast of Great Yarmouth on the English east coast. On that December day in 2020, the crew played a crucial role in the lives of seven badly injured crabbers. In fact, they saved their lives!