Rescue

from the Boats of Death (UNHCR)

CS Caprice

22nd Oct 2014 , the day which will be deeply cherished in the hearts of the crew of CS CAPRICE.CS Caprice loaded
27000 MT of Barley in bulk at Liepaja ,Latvia and was heading to her destination Umm said, Qatar via Suez canal.
On a gloomy afternoon of 22nd Oct 2014, 510 people on a boat which was in distress found a ray of hope.
At 1352 LT we received distress signal through SATC from Malta RCC stating that a boat carrying about 400 to 500
people are in distress and require to immediately proceed to the said position.(34 35 N/ 020 05 E).I verified the
phone no of Malta Rcc given in the distress message , just to confirm that its not a plot made by pirates. After
verifying the phone , I contacted Malta RCC and confirmed the distress message and was advised to proceed to the
location and take all people on board as the weather was getting boisterous with beau fort scale 8 to 9.
We had to deviate from our voyage to accomplish this herculean task of rescuing a whopping number of lives in
distress At Sea.In the meanwhile I contacted our owners Campbell Shipping, and our management made it very
clear that we have to save the lives of all the people who are in distress. Their vision towards the rescue operation
was clear and concise. My owners gave me full back up to the needful and to go ahead with the rescue operation.
They never even gave a second thought .Thus the positive support from my owners and the crew onboard became
the driving force and the urge to save lives become our motto.
They were mixed feelings when the crew expressed their fears about Ebola, about the security threat to our own
crew on board. Now it was time for me to motivate the crew and to set in a positive attitude. I tried my level best to
give them the confidence and the courage to go ahead as a team to accomplish this operation.
The sun was setting to call it of a day as we reached the position close to the boat which was in distress. The
weather was getting bad and windy. Getting the boat alongside our vessel was a serious task as the boat was
overhanging with people all around. Since the wind was from star board side I thought of taking the advantage of
wind to get the boat alongside. We started maneuvering our vessel so as to have the boat on our starboard ie the
leeward side of the boat keeping safe distance .The wind was pushing the boat towards us but was heading
towards the propeller. The people on board were frightful
As they were heading towards the propeller. The only way to make it to the parallel body was to give a kick astern.
We did it and we had the boat abreast No 5 hatch starboard side alongside. Our crew and officers were geared up
with protective clothings as a preventive measure to Ebola. The pilot ladder was rigged as the freeboard was too

less to lower gangway. And more over the weather was getting choppy and the embarkation through gangway
would cause fatal accident. The boat was made fast with ships line fore and aft and our crew commenced
embarkation of the people in distress. Firstly Our crew helped in getting the ladies and kids on board . Out of them
about ten ladies were pregnant and few mothers having infants.as we completed embarking ladies and then it was
the mens turn to get on to the vessel. It took couple hours to safely embark all the people on board CS CAPRICE ,
The lone savior on the high seas.
Our crew used their full strength to literally lift the ladies and kids as it was not easy for them to climb the pilot
ladder. I could see our team though exhausted, drenching never complained and were happy to serve. No one
bothered nor cribbed about the rest hours, but were on and on to their fullest to do the needful. The cook was
ready with the hot tea in a large vessel trying to keep the people warm and the steward with milk packets for the
babies and kids. I learnt that God was so merciful that as soon as we had the last person and when we were about
the cast of the boat , The sea became ferocious ,shipping seas all over the stbd side. The ladies were given shelter in
the forecastle store and men were asked to stay in mast houses. As our chief officer was taking round he came
across ladies who were pregnant and few mothers with infants. As the forecastle was overcrowded we decided to
give the Suez room and the tally room for these ladies who were finding it difficult to carry themselves in the
forecastle store.
We informed the Malta RCC that the mission has been accomplished and 510 people taken on board without any
injuries. Nav warning was sent regarding the boat adrift. Malta RCC advised us to proceed towards Sicily. Hence
we began our passage towards the destination which would be confirmed the next day.
An hour later on commencement of our passage, crew served thick porridge made of rice and grams, as serving the
whole guests was not a easy task. We made batches in order to serve the people, while the other half went to rest.
We made sure no was on deck as the sea was roaring in, flooding the entire main deck.
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 body
temperature was high. While I could see her gasping for breath through the oxygen mask, rushed to call up CIRM
Roma to seek medical advice. As per the suggestion had to inject hydrocortisone 100 mg . Her vital symptoms were
continuously monitored until she was finally air lifted by the chopper.
UNITY IS STRENGHT is what we learnt and experienced. If not with this team work, we wouldnt been able to
accomplish this humungous task. The vessel was berthed in Augusta, Italy on 25th Oct 2014 at 0000hrs. The whole
operation took almost 60 hours.
Thanks to my team on board and Campbell shipping management for the support.
Master CS Candy
Capt. Joshua Peris Bhatt

Note from Managing Director: Sent 29th Oct 2014

Dear Capt. Bhatt and One Team Campbell team members aboard CS Caprice.

It is with great gratitude and Pride that I write to express my sincerely thank for the wonderful humanitarian
rescue and service offered to the 510 distressed men, women and children.

Your combined efforts, have demonstrated, that magnificent things can be accomplished when a team works
together for the common good.

Capt., you, the officers and crew of the CS Caprice, through your efforts, have giving the entire One Team Campbell
family an opportunity to reflect on the great value and privilege of life; and further, a reason to be ever so proud.

Thank you all and may you voyages ever be undergirded in safety.

Best regards


Chandler T. Sands | Managing Director
Campbell Shipping Company Ltd.

Note from Management:

We are extremely pleased to share that 22nd Oct 2014 & CS Caprice Rescue Operation, would always be
remembered in the History of Campbell Shipping. This was the day when the team of CS Caprice lead by Capt.
Joshua Peris Bhatt achieved a remarkable accomplishment of saving 510 lives at sea in a challenging conditions
and further made sure that all the persons were looked after & safely disembarked at the port of deviation. The
team on
board was pushed to the limit both mentally and physically for days, however they made sure that all lives were
saved without any injuries or incidents.

We are grateful to the team of CS Caprice who, in real terms, have flown the Campbell flag high with pride. The
essence of "Safety our Priority Excellence Our Commitment" was truly demonstrated in their actions.

Please join us in applauding the efforts of the Team of CS Caprice.

Photographs

Fishingboatwith510people

FishingBoatAlongside

MasterCommunicatingwithRescueCoordinationCentre/FishingBoat

Women,ChildrenandMentakenonboard

Women,ChildrenandMentakenonboard

510refugeestakingshelterfromRoughWeatherConditions


RoughWeatherConditions

FeedingtheChildrenMedicalAttentionontheship

RefugeewithCriticalConditionHelicopterEvacuationofCriticalillRefugee

FirstAidtendered

Feeding510peopleWomen&ChildrenkeptinsidedueRoughWeather

HelicopterEvacuationofCriticalillRefugee


TeamofCSCaprice