Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Spliethoff's DOLFIJNGRACHT rescues a man who was trying to row single-handed across the Atlantic

   A 44-year old man who was attempting to row

single-handed across the North Atlantic Ocean had

to be rescued today when his boat got into difficulties

in stormy weather and was in danger of sinking.

   The man had set off last month from Norfolk,

Virginia, USA, on a 3,400 mile journey to his home

in Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides

  Islands of Scotland.

   When the storm became too severe he radioed

for assistance and the U.K. Coastguard picked up his

call and alerted ships in the area to assist. 

   The Dutch ship DOLFIJNGRACHT which was nearby

approached the boat and, when the man saw the vessel

coming near, he left his boat and took to his small life raft

and paddled to the ship which lowered ropes and a

pilot ladder to get him aboard.

   DOLFIJNGRACHT is a large multi purpose cargo ship,

built in 2009, is 157m long and has a 13,558 gross

tonnage and is owned by Spliethoff Group of Amsterdam,

The Netherlands and was heading to the Canadian Port

of Gros Cacouna in Quebec.