Classification
- Incident Type: Capsize unknown mechanism
- Severity: High
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Vikingbank |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | |
| IMO Number | |
| Gross Tonnage | |
| LOA (m) | |
| Breadth (m) | |
| Owner/Operator | |
| Crew Size | 9 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 1967-03-19 |
| Location | Hook of Holland, near the Zuiderpier |
| Region | North Sea |
| Coordinates | 51.9772, 4.1315 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage |
Key facts
- The account describes Vikingbank going out in severe weather to assist the grounded Greek steamship Alkyone near the Hook of Holland.
- Four tugs were involved, but three tow cables broke and Vikingbank remained connected, according to the survivor account.
- A large American freighter passed close by. The account says its wake drove water into Vikingbank's engine room, after which the machinery stopped and the tug capsized.
- All nine people aboard were eventually rescued by helicopter. One crewman sustained a serious leg injury after falling into the battery compartment and being exposed to battery acid.
- The article uses both 1967 and 1968 for the incident date; the seeded date on this page remains unconfirmed.
Narrative
The available account is an AD retrospective interview with former Vikingbank crew member Piet Westra. It describes the tug entering severe weather near Hook of Holland to assist the grounded Greek steamship Alkyone. Four tugs were involved, but three tow cables parted, leaving Vikingbank as the tug still connected to the casualty.
The article reports that a large American freighter then passed close to the tugs. Its wake forced water into Vikingbank's engine room, the machinery stopped, and the tug capsized. The account does not establish an official technical cause for the capsize, so this page uses the controlled classification “Capsize unknown mechanism.”
Nine people were aboard. A rescue boat could not reach the tug in the prevailing weather, and a helicopter from Valkenburg made three flights to take everyone ashore. One crewman fell into the battery compartment and suffered a serious leg injury when battery acid reached the wound. The article contains an internal date discrepancy: it frames the event as occurring on 19 March 1967 but also refers to 18 March 1968. The date on this page therefore remains provisional pending a stronger historical source.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 1967-03-19 | Vikingbank joined the response to the grounded Alkyone near the Hook of Holland. |
| 1967-03-19 | Three tow cables parted; Vikingbank remained connected. |
| 1967-03-19 | A passing freighter's wake was reported to flood the engine room, after which the machinery stopped and Vikingbank capsized. |
| 1967-03-19 | All nine people aboard were rescued by helicopter; one crewman had a serious leg injury. |
Investigation
The available account is a survivor retrospective and does not identify an official investigation report or finding. The date discrepancy and the technical sequence remain unresolved.
References
- AD: Ontsnapt aan de dood
- AD retrospective record
- Supporting video