Launched from the Bremerhaven yard of Rickmers Werft on 12th August 1960 the steel motor fishing vessel Hessen measured 64.2m x x 11.1m x 4.96m and her tonnage was 998 gross tons, 432 net tons. She was powered by a 6 cylinder 4ASA diesel engine by Mak Maschinenbau Gmbh delivering 2000 brake horse power. By 1987 the vessel was owned by Hoschseefischerei Nordstern Ag, Bremerhaven and made regular fishing trips to the east of Scotland and north to the Faroese and Icelandic fishing grounds.
Fishing vessel Hessen
Lloyds register 1987
On 25th June 1987 she was off Duncansby Head with a crew of nineteen men aboard heading home from a successful fishing trip off Greenland . The weather was flat calm and everyone aboard was relaxed, enjoying the voyage and looking forward to getting home after a long trip. However the alarm was raised as a leak was discovered in the engine room. Despite the efforts of the crew to resolve the problem the inflow of water could not be stopped. The engines were finally flooded and the Hessen was left drifting helpless, settling down in the water and clearly about to founder.
Luckily help was at hand. HMS Ark Royal was heading south after completion of a naval exercise nearby and was the first to answer the Mayday calls from the Hessen. A passenger ferry, a fishing boat and the Longhope Lifeboat also sped to the scene. With Warrant Officer Benton in charge, a rescue team of four men took off by helicopter from Ark Royal which was soon hovering over the sinking vessel.
HMS Ark Royal
The team of five men were lowered on to the wallowing fishing boat and helped the crew, except the skipper and first mate, to scramble aboard another fishing boat which by now had arrived alongside. Two of the rescue team were also now aboard the fishing boat. Benton, his two fellow rescuers and the two remaining members of the Hessen’s crew moved towards the stern of the vessel as the bow sank below the waves. The helicopter hovering overhead began its final rescue, lifting the men one by one aboard as the Hessen sank beneath their feet. Warrant Officer Benton was the last to leave and by then the water was up to his waist. Thankfully everyone was safe as the Hessen slipped beneath the waves.
A grainy shot of the rescue
The wreck of the Hessen lies in position 58° 34.969’N, 02° 59.172’W oriented 160/240 degrees, She lies in 67 metres with a least clearance of 57 metres. The wreck is completely in tact lying on it’s port side.
