Dramatic rescue of two sailors by NCL

It was an exciting days for guests on board NCL’s Norwegian Dawn last Monday 30 June, following a dramatic rescue of two stricken sailors. The sailors issued two separate distress calls 12 hours apart and luckily each man was rescued within a day.

The first rescue occurred just over 210 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. A sailing boat called ‘Patriot’ was making its way back from Bermuda where it had taken part in a competition race but unfortunately one its team members, Andrew Paul Giglia, was suffering from shock and required immediate rescuing. The US Coast Guard contacted NCL’s Norwegian Dawn which was cruising only 52 miles away. Norwegian Dawn immediately changed course and made radio contact with Patriot.

Norwegian Dawn Captain Trygve Vorren performed a skillful manoeuvre, flanking the 40 foot sailboat and deploying the life boat. There was a high wind and waves of up to 15 feet but thankfully a three person rescue team from Norwegian Dawn were able to get the sick sailor aboard and whisked off for treatment by the ship’s doctor.

Amazingly, within 12 hours off rescuing the first man, Captain Vorren was contacted about another potentially more serious injury on the sailboat Misty approximately 260 miles south of Montauk, New York. A male crew member, Hillary Bercovici, aboard Misty had a head injury and was losing consciousness. By a stroke of coincidence, Norwegian Dawn was the closest ship again, only 32 miles away.

Weather conditions were reported as very rough, with rain and high winds of up to 33 knots and 20 foot swells. Despite this, Norwegian Dawn found the vessel, lowered a life boat and with the same three crew members from the first rescue, transferred the injured sailor to the cruise ship where he received immediate medical attention, which included five stitches to the forehead.

Norwegian Cruise Line are a dab hand at ship rescues. It is actually the third time in as many months that NCL has been involved in a sea rescue.