VIVIERAE II UPDATE: It’s a happy ending to the story of Nordhavn 96 VivieRae II which was left stranded in the Arafura Sea March 6th after line tangled and fouled the props which seized the engines. Extreme weather forced the evacuation of the crew, who set the anchor prior to jumping onto a tanker that happened upon the distressed VivieRae II a week ago. On Tuesday afternoon, owner Bob Giles and VR’s crew climbed aboard a support vessel out of Indonesia which found the N96 secured to her anchor exactly as they had left her, no obvious signs of distress other than the marks left by the assisting tanker resulting from unsuccessful attempts to get a tow line to VR. Waves measuring 13 feet combined with 55 kt wind gusts knocked the 190 M tanker into the side of VivieRae leaving a few scrapes, but nothing structurally major. “It’s quite superficial damage when you consider what a 190-meter tanker could have done to that yacht,” said ESysman SuperYachts reporting on the rescue. A dive underneath revealed the props of both engines fouled: one by the line of their 36’ tender they were towing and one wrapped in fishing line the crew had unknowingly come in contact with. The boat, under its own propulsion, is enroute to Brisbane, Australia to have repairs done to the cosmetic damage before it continues on its journey west. “Fortunately no one was hurt and Nordhavn builds a very strong vessel,” Giles wrote on Instagram.
Incidentally, the Australian Navy happened upon the 36’ Metal Shark tender VivieRae II had been towing – some 230 miles away from where it had broken free. They were able to hook a line up to it and reunite with its mothership.
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I understand that it was the Royal Australian Navy that evacuated the crew, after it was decided that the tanker attempt to tow VR was deemed to be too dangerous. And I concur that they also recovered the tender over 200 miles away and returned her to the boat. Which version is true?? Either way I’m very glad that the crew and passengers were rescued, and that NORDHAVN has proven once again to be the magnificent sea boat we all know and love. Well done to the CAPT and crew on a magnificent job
Would greatly appreciate a regular update on what is happening with Vivienne 11 until she resumes normal operations.
Malcolm Dale
Melbourne. Australia
Hi Malcolm – Here is another story and video related to the N96 VIVIERAE incident: https://nordhavn.com/what-the-events-of-a-tanker-colliding-with-vivierae-tells-us-about-the-strength-of-nordhavns/
The Australian Navy did evacuate the crew. The 36 foot Metal Shark tender was spotted by a pilot boat captain just north of Thursday island Australia 275 NM south of where she was lost. The tender was towed by the pilot boat and put on a mooring buoy at Thursday island and VivieRae picked her up on the way to Brisbane for repairs.