RescuefromtheBoatsofDeath(UNHCR)CSCaprice

22ndOct2014,thedaywhichwillbedeeplycherishedintheheartsofthecrewofCSCAPRICE.CSCapriceloaded27000MTofBarleyinbulkatLiepaja,LatviaandwasheadingtoherdestinationUmmsaid,QatarviaSuezcanal.Onagloomyafternoonof22ndOct2014,510peopleonaboatwhichwasindistressfoundarayofhope.At1352LTwereceiveddistresssignalthroughSATCfromMaltaRCCstatingthataboatcarryingabout400to500peopleareindistressandrequiretoimmediatelyproceedtothesaidposition.(3435N/02005E).IverifiedthephonenoofMaltaRcc given in the distressmessage , just to confirm that its not a plotmadebypirates.Afterverifyingthephone,IcontactedMaltaRCCandconfirmedthedistressmessageandwasadvisedtoproceedtothelocationandtakeallpeopleonboardastheweatherwasgettingboisterouswithbeaufortscale8to9.Wehadtodeviatefromourvoyagetoaccomplishthisherculeantaskofrescuingawhoppingnumberof lives indistressAtSea.In themeanwhile I contactedourownersCampbellShipping, andourmanagementmade itveryclearthatwehavetosavethelivesofallthepeoplewhoareindistress.Theirvisiontowardstherescueoperationwasclearandconcise.Myownersgavemefullbackuptotheneedfulandtogoaheadwiththerescueoperation.Theyneverevengaveasecondthought.Thusthepositivesupportfrommyownersandthecrewonboardbecamethedrivingforceandtheurgetosavelivesbecomeourmotto.TheyweremixedfeelingswhenthecrewexpressedtheirfearsaboutEbola,aboutthesecuritythreattoourowncrewonboard.Nowitwastimeformetomotivatethecrewandtosetinapositiveattitude.Itriedmylevelbesttogivethemtheconfidenceandthecouragetogoaheadasateamtoaccomplishthisoperation.The sunwas setting to call it of a day aswe reached the position close to the boatwhichwas in distress. Theweatherwas getting bad andwindy. Getting the boat alongside our vessel was a serious task as the boat wasoverhangingwithpeopleallaround.SincethewindwasfromstarboardsideIthoughtoftakingtheadvantageofwindtogettheboatalongside.Westartedmaneuveringourvesselsoastohavetheboatonourstarboardietheleeward side of the boat keeping safe distance .The wind was pushing the boat towards us but was headingtowardsthepropeller.ThepeopleonboardwerefrightfulAstheywereheadingtowardsthepropeller.Theonlywaytomakeittotheparallelbodywastogiveakickastern.WediditandwehadtheboatabreastNo5hatchstarboardsidealongside.OurcrewandofficersweregearedupwithprotectiveclothingsasapreventivemeasuretoEbola.Thepilotladderwasriggedasthefreeboardwastoo

less to lower gangway. Andmore over theweatherwas getting choppy and the embarkation through gangwaywould cause fatal accident. The boat was made fast with ships line fore and aft and our crew commencedembarkationofthepeopleindistress.FirstlyOurcrewhelpedingettingtheladiesandkidsonboard.Outofthemabouttenladieswerepregnantandfewmothershavinginfants.aswecompletedembarkingladiesandthenitwasthemensturntogetontothevessel.IttookcouplehourstosafelyembarkallthepeopleonboardCSCAPRICE,Thelonesavioronthehighseas.Ourcrewusedtheirfullstrengthtoliterallylifttheladiesandkidsasitwasnoteasyforthemtoclimbthepilotladder. I could see our team though exhausted, drenching never complained andwere happy to serve. No onebotherednor cribbedabout the resthours,butwereonandon to their fullest todo theneedful.Thecookwasreadywiththehotteainalargevesseltryingtokeepthepeoplewarmandthestewardwithmilkpacketsforthebabiesandkids.IlearntthatGodwassomercifulthatassoonaswehadthelastpersonandwhenwewereaboutthecastoftheboat,Theseabecameferocious,shippingseasalloverthestbdside.Theladiesweregivenshelterinthe forecastle storeandmenwereasked to stay inmasthouses.Asour chief officerwas taking roundhe cameacrossladieswhowerepregnantandfewmotherswithinfants.Astheforecastlewasovercrowdedwedecidedtogive the Suez room and the tally room for these ladieswhowere finding it difficult to carry themselves in theforecastlestore.WeinformedtheMaltaRCCthatthemissionhasbeenaccomplishedand510peopletakenonboardwithoutanyinjuries.Navwarningwassentregardingtheboatadrift.MaltaRCCadvisedustoproceedtowardsSicily.Hencewebeganourpassagetowardsthedestinationwhichwouldbeconfirmedthenextday.Anhourlateroncommencementofourpassage,crewservedthickporridgemadeofriceandgrams,asservingthewholeguestswasnotaeasytask.Wemadebatchesinordertoservethepeople,whiletheotherhalfwenttorest.Wemadesurenowasondeckastheseawasroaringin,floodingtheentiremaindeck.As I was closing to our destination, faced a medical emergency while a Syrian lady was gasping for breath.Immediately was given oxygen and checked her pulse, blood pressure and temperature. The BP and her bodytemperaturewashigh.WhileIcouldseehergaspingforbreaththroughtheoxygenmask,rushedtocallupCIRMRomatoseekmedicaladvice.Asperthesuggestionhadtoinjecthydrocortisone100mg.Hervitalsymptomswerecontinuouslymonitoreduntilshewasfinallyairliftedbythechopper.UNITY IS STRENGHT iswhatwe learnt and experienced. If notwith this teamwork,wewouldnt been able toaccomplishthishumungoustask.ThevesselwasberthedinAugusta,Italyon25thOct2014at0000hrs.Thewholeoperationtookalmost60hours.ThankstomyteamonboardandCampbellshippingmanagementforthesupport.MasterCSCandyCapt.JoshuaPerisBhatt

NotefromManagingDirector:Sent29thOct2014DearCapt.BhattandOneTeamCampbellteammembersaboardCSCaprice.It iswith great gratitude and Pride that Iwrite to expressmy sincerely thank for thewonderful humanitarianrescueandserviceofferedtothe510distressedmen,womenandchildren.Your combined efforts, have demonstrated, that magnificent things can be accomplished when a team workstogetherforthecommongood.Capt.,you,theofficersandcrewoftheCSCaprice,throughyourefforts,havegivingtheentireOneTeamCampbellfamilyanopportunitytoreflectonthegreatvalueandprivilegeoflife;andfurther,areasontobeeversoproud.Thankyouallandmayyouvoyageseverbeundergirdedinsafety.BestregardsChandlerT.Sands|ManagingDirectorCampbellShippingCompanyLtd.NotefromManagement:We are extremely pleased to share that 22nd Oct 2014 & CS Caprice Rescue Operation, would always beremembered in theHistory of Campbell Shipping. Thiswas the daywhen the teamof CS Caprice lead by Capt.JoshuaPerisBhattachieveda remarkableaccomplishmentof saving510 livesat sea inachallengingconditionsandfurthermadesurethatall thepersonswere lookedafter&safelydisembarkedat theportofdeviation.Theteamonboardwaspushedtothelimitbothmentallyandphysicallyfordays,howevertheymadesurethatall livesweresavedwithoutanyinjuriesorincidents.Wearegrateful to the teamofCSCapricewho, inreal terms,have flowntheCampbell flaghighwithpride.Theessenceof"SafetyourPriorityExcellenceOurCommitment"wastrulydemonstratedintheiractions.PleasejoinusinapplaudingtheeffortsoftheTeamofCSCaprice.

Photographs

Fishingboatwith510people FishingBoatAlongside

MasterCommunicatingwithRescueCoordinationCentre/FishingBoat

Women,ChildrenandMentakenonboard

Women,ChildrenandMentakenonboard

510refugeestakingshelterfromRoughWeatherConditions

RoughWeatherConditions

FeedingtheChildrenMedicalAttentionontheship

RefugeewithCriticalConditionHelicopterEvacuationofCriticalillRefugee

FirstAidtendered

Feeding510peopleWomen&ChildrenkeptinsidedueRoughWeather

HelicopterEvacuationofCriticalillRefugee

TeamofCSCaprice