Ever-Strong

On Nov 26, 2011 at 00.20 a.m., the "Ever Strong" was in collision with the pilot boat "Duhnen" in the estuary of the Elbe between Cuxhaven Scharhörn. The "Duhnen" was severely damaged and could only be held with the support of the lifeboat "Hermann Helms". The boat had flooding in the bow and requested urgent pump assistance of the "Hermann Helms" of the DGzRS station in Cuxhaven. Apparently a wave with a height of up to four meters and 9 bf wind and gusts of 88 km/h had pushed the pilot boat against the "Ever Strong". The four-man crew of the tender was uninjured. The pilot could still board the freighter. Afterwards the "Ever Strong" continued to Hamburg and berthed at the Athabaska Quay around 7 a.m. The "Hermann Helm" was able to stabilize the "Duhnen". The twin-hulled boat had sustained damage on starboard side with the deck being pushed up. Further damage below the waterline was suspected. The disabled vessel suffered a considerable list to starboard and the main deck only about half a meter from the water, normally around two to three meters. Attempts to right the tender by pumping in ballast water water failed. The "Hermann Helms" accompanied the stricken pilot boat together with the large tender "Elbe" and a police boat to Cuxhaven. In the new fishing port the fire brigade took over the pumping.