On New Year's Eve, the national research vessel 421"St. St. Cyril and Methodius" participated in an operation to provide assistance to the distressed motor yacht "EL DOBLON" in the approaches to the Drake Passage.
The yacht had a crew of 13, had a serious leak on board, and was sailing under the Canadian flag, the ship's crew said.
"Here is the chronology of the actions taken:
• at 01:45 on 01/01/2024 - a "MAY DAY" signal was received on the VHF radio station on channel 16. Five minutes later, a call was received from the Chilean Coast Guard on channel 16 to render assistance to a vessel in distress. NIK 421 has been brought to a higher state of combat readiness. Three minutes later, coordinates of the vessel in distress were received, W=55*31.30'S E=066*29.45 W' about 12 nautical miles south of the island. Nueva on approach to enter Drake Passage. Our vessel headed for the vessel in distress, motor yacht "EL DOBLON" with a crew of 13, which is 8 nautical miles away. NICK 421 is assigned as "ON SCENE COMMANDER" by the Chilean Coast Guard according to the "IAMSAR MANUAL".
At 02.10 communication was established with "EL DOBLON" in Spanish, the motor yacht reported that she had a breach in the bow keel with water coming in and was out of motion. Five minutes later, a rescue speedboat with a three-man crew equipped with lifesaving equipment and thermal suits, mooring and towing ropes were prepared on the Bulgarian ship for towing the vessel in distress and/or possibly mooring on board, and capabilities were deployed to render first aid to people in distress at sea. At 2:30, the Bulgarian ship began approaching the motor yacht "EL DOBLON" with readiness to launch a lifeboat. In communication with motor yacht "EL DOBLON" a report was received to stop the encroaching water and restore a minimum sail under sail. At 2.58 a.m. when the target was illuminated, a strong roll to starboard was detected, a course of 1.5 knots. The Bulgarian vessel reported the condition of the motor yacht to the Chilean Coast Guard and began escorting the approach to the Beagle Channel and Port of Puerto Williams, Chile. On approach to Richmond Strait, NIC 421 was released from "ON SCENE COMMANDER" by the Chilean Coast Guard due to entering an island group with calmer waters and activation of a Chilean military SAR vessel. At 4:10 a.m., the Bulgarian ship's combat readiness was lowered, the material part was brought into a ready position and it continued sailing according to the plan to Fr. Livingston.
The vessel operated in the following conditions: Wind - 240.0° - 12-13 m/s, Sea - 5 on the Beaufort scale, Visibility - 6-8 miles. Cloudiness - 100%, air and water temperature - 8.0°, atm. pressure - 1007.0 mbar.
Details of the vessel in distress: Name: "EL DOBLON", Flag: Canada, Length: 25 meters, Beam: 5 meters, Crew and passengers: 13 people.
Congratulations to the commander of NIK 421 Capt. Rank II Nikolay Danailov and his crew!", the ship's crew also reported./BGNES
