Berkel

Berkel, which had been loaded with vast quantities of timber in Sundsvall and Härnösand, was on her way to Ljusne to pick up more wood before setting course for Holland. On the night of 4 January, the mate was in command in the wheelhouse. Most of the other members of the large crew had gone to bed.

Shortly after 4 a.m., the ship ran aground at full speed on Hällgrundet. Berkel’s bottom was badly damaged, and it soon became clear that the ship was in danger of splitting in half. When the seriousness of the situation was understood, distress signals were sent out over the radio. Salvage steamers departed from both Härnösand and Öregrund.

Two pilot boats from Rönnskär pilot station, with seven men on board, also made it out to the scene of the accident. When they arrived to assist Berkel, it was 15 degrees below zero and the sea was rough. Berkel’s crew were poorly dressed, some only in nightwear. With constant overwashes, the pilots realised that something had to be done quickly or the crew would not survive.

The swells were high, and risking their own lives they took off and kept the same speed as the swells, “surfing” on the crest of the waves along the side of the ship. With each pass, a few crew members managed to jump into the pilot boats. They succeeded in saving the entire crew, including two dogs. After that, they quickly made their way back to the pilot’s cabin on Rönnskär where everyone could warm up and rest.

The pilots who risked their lives to save Berkel’s crew were awarded medals for their efforts – silver medals only, because “they’re professionals and were just doing their job”.