No lark for Scanlark

摘要

The gales of early January produced several well-documented casualties. One which did not make the headlines, but which nevertheless was a very frightening experience for her crew, occurred on 9 January when the 75m St Vincent and Grenadines-flagged coaster Scanlark (1,555dwt) became disabled during a gale in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Germany. The vessel sustained engine failure and started drifting. As she drifted ever closer to Kiel, the crew tried to drop anchor, but the vessel was pushed along by increasing winds and the anchor started to dragg. Two tugs from Kiel managed to get a towline on board after the anchor was raised, and towed Scanlark to Kiel.