AERIAL VIEW HELICOPTER FLYING OVER SHIP; DUTCH SALVAGE SHIP; HELICOPTERS HOVERING ABOVE LISTING SHIP; CREW HAULED INTO HELICOPTERS; MEN ON TUG HANDLING TOW ROPE.




Initials RJ/V-TELE/PW/SGM



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Background: HELICOPTERS OF THE ROYAL NAVY TODAY (SATURDAY) WENT TO THE RESCUE OF TEN CREW MEMBERS ABOARD A HEAVILY LISTING SWEDISH SHIP OFF LANDS END. THE CARGO OF GRAIN THE VESSEL THE NORDANHAV, WAS CARRYING, SHIFTED AND THE SHIP TOOK ON A 45 DEGREE LIST.

THE HAZARDOUS RESCUE OPERATION WAS MADE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT BY THE HEAVY SWELL WHICH SWEPT THE MASTS THROUGH A WIDE ARC. ONE BY ONE THE TEN CREW MEN WERE HOISTED ABOARD THE HELICOPTERS AND TRANSFERRED TO NEARBY RESCUE SHIPS. THE HEAVY SEAS HAD MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE VESSELS TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO EFFECT A RESCUE.

THEN THE HELICOPTERS LOWERED THREE CREWMEN FROM A DUTCH SALVAGE TUG ON BOARD THE NORDANHAV AND HELPED GET A TOW LINE ABOARD. THE RESCUED CREW MEN ARE NOW SAFE AND THE LISTING SHIP IS BEING TOWED INTO PORT.