One of our managing Ammonia Carrier, M/V "NORDIC RIVER", received an urgent rescue request from RCC Australia at 0150 Local Time on the 11th of July, while the vessel was en route to the loading port of Dampier, Australia. The call was about the evacuation of an injured crew of "AVALON", an ocean-rowing adventurer boat, which was rowing non-stop across the Indian Ocean, from Australia to South Africa.

The injured crew member of "AVALON" sustained multiple burns a few days ago, and the burns required proper medical treatment.

Arriving the site at her top speed, the "NORDIC RIVER" lowered her rescue boat immediately and, in spite of swell of the South Indian Ocean, the staff successfully picked up the injured at 1150 LT on the same day.

On board, the ship's staff applied the patient with as the best medical treatment as they can and warm hospitality, in which the patient showed rapid recovery from the worst, until his safe disembarkation at Dampier on the 18th of July.

The excellent seamanship of the crew of "NORDIC RIVER" should be highly praised, for it was that enabled such noble action to save a life from the swelling sea and, as her manager, we are very proud of them.

= NORDIC RIVER =
Master: Captain Balvinder Singh Sabharwal
Flag: Panamanean
Number of Crew: 28 (including the master; Nationalities: Indian & Filipino)
Gross Tonnage: 25,937 t
Type: NH3 (Ammonia) Carrier

Dramatic rescue by Yara partner

A chartered vessel working with Yara Pilbara saved an injured rower in wild seas, 3200 kilometers from Western Australia.

Dr. Shane Usher, a chemical engineer, was one of four men in a 14-meter boat trying to raise AUD 250,000 for Multiple Sclerosis Australia by being the first to row across the Indian Ocean to Africa unassisted. Usher had been injured with festering burns, and the Nordic River, a huge 180-meter ammonia tanker that services Yara Pilbara, was attempting to rescue him in stormy conditions.

The operation turned highly dramatic, with the smaller craft nearly drifting into the Nordic River's massive propellers before a bold approach with a lifeboat managed to get close enough for Usher to jump in.

"I felt so guilty seeing the pain and exhaustion on their faces when they hoisted me over the side of the ship," Usher told The West Australian, "but they all just started cheering. It was quite special."

"In this case, as soon as the vessel was diverted to initiate the rescue I immediately got informed by the Master and the K-Line Superintendent in Japan," explains Yara Pilbara Shipping Manager Leo Rego.

"Yara takes its relationship with the owners of its chartered vessels and the personnel on board very seriously," he adds. "The Nordic River has been predominantly employed for Yara Pilbara and our relationship with them, the personnel on board and K-Line staff in Japan is excellent."

"Having met the staff on board on their arrival, it was clear to see that they had undertaken a great job," Leo continues. "It is no easy task trying to rescue a person from a rowing boat in huge seas and swell. K-Line do provide very professional training to their staff on board and this was put to effective use - it is indeed very creditable that none of the rescue team sustained any injury in the process."

"I thank the crew of the Nordic River for their efforts," Usher told Yara. "I was well looked after in their well-equipped medical room over the eight days it took to travel to Dampier."

The long trip to a hospital on land gave the curious passenger, who is a Research Fellow at the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Melbourne, a chance to make use of some knowledge-sharing, as he discussed the ship's operations with the captain and the senior gas engineer on board the Nordic River.

"As a result of some ideas from the gas engineer, I am seeking to develop some small-scale, low-energy dehumidification systems for electronics dryboxes and small cabins," Dr. Usher told Yara. "These technologies have potential applications in ocean rowing and when working in isolated areas, but also for many people living in less developed communities, especially in tropical regions such as Papua New Guinea."