ABSTRACT
It’s Christmas Eve and a violent storm is raging.* The rescue cruiser Eugen Hermann left port in the late afternoon to aid another ship in distress. After several taxing hours, the rescue mission was successful and the crew is looking forward to being back on shore. However, on their way back to port, the crew and cruiser struggle to cope with the bad sea state. While coxswain, Anders Mueller, and engineer, Osvald Kettil, are situated on the open bridge, the other two crew members remain below deck. Due to the stormy weather, the entire crew is wearing survival suits and life vests and is fastened to the guide rails with safety lines. At 10:14 p.m., still a long distance from the safe harbor, the maritime rescue coordination center (MRCC) on shore loses radio contact with the cruiser after receiving a mayday call.
