Four rescue ships respond simultaneously in unusually busy night for Landsbjörg
This photograph was taken aboard Vörður II. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
The Landsbjörg rescue teams have responded to five separate calls since midnight— an unusually high number in such a short period. Remarkably, four rescue vessels were operating at sea simultaneously, each assisting vessels in distress.
Capsized b oat in Seyðisfjörður
Just before 1 a. m., the emergency line received a distress call from five individuals whose small pleasure boat had capsized in the middle of Seyðisfjörður. The passengers had climbed onto the overturned hull.
The rescue team Ísólfur in Seyðisfjörður launched a lifeboat, supported by the rescue ship Hafbjörg and the smaller lifeboat operated by the Gerpir rescue team in Neskaupstaður. A Coast Guard helicopter was also deployed.
Within about 20 minutes, all five individuals were safely rescued by the crew of Ísólfur’s lifeboat Árni Vilhjálmsson and accompanying vessels. Fortunately, no one was injured. The lifeboat crew returned to the scene, righted the capsized boat, and towed it back to port. Operations concluded around 3 a. m.
This photograph was taken aboard Vörður II. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
Four m ore c alls f ollow
Later in the morning, four additional calls were received in quick succession, all involving coastal fishing boats with engine trouble.
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Faxaflói: A vessel near Syðra- Hraun suffered engine failure and had to shut off its engine to prevent seawater from flooding in. The Akranes rescue boat Margrét Guðbrands responded and towed the boat to safety.
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Ísafjarðardjúp: About ten minutes later, a second boat reported engine failure. The Kofri rescue team deployed their new lifeboat Svan to assist.
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Patreksfjörður: Around 8 a. m., a small fishing boat at the mouth of the fjord also reported engine failure. The rescue ship Vörður II headed out in dense fog and successfully towed the vessel.
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West of Syðra- Hraun: At approximately 9 a. m., the rescue ship Hannes Þ. Hafsteinn from Sandgerði was dispatched to aid another small fishing boat with a broken engine.
An u nusual n ight at s ea
“ In all of the cases— apart from the capsizing in Seyðisfjörður— there was no immediate danger to life or property. However, it is certainly unusual for four of our rescue vessels to be simultaneously at sea, each towing a boat back to port,” the rescue organization stated in its official announcement.
