Nordic Issue 2012 - Rescue at Sea

It is widely accepted that the most dangerous of all workplaces is the sea.

Naturally, the effects of this fact are primarily felt by the countries most dependent on the sea, such as the Faroe Islands.

The biggest known accident at sea in the Faroe Islands occurred around the year 1600. A storm suddenly appeared from the northeast and 50 boats never returned home. It is believed that 200 to 300 fishermen were killed in the storm. Because the majority of the boats that did not return home were small, the use of small boats was then prohibited. Thus, this major accident resulted in the first known initiative to make the sea a safer workplace.
But there were still many maritime accidents that claimed the lives of many victims. There are no precise figures, but the victims were in the thousands, making a significant impact on a community as small as the Faroe Islands.

The lives of many fishermen were lost in the first half of the previous century. On more than one occasion, many crews of up to 23 men each disappeared at the same time.

There are also reports from this period of incredible rescue efforts. For example, in 1930 during a snowstorm, the schooner “Ernestine” crashed into a reef off the southern coast of Iceland. A member of the crew, Ziska Jacobsen, swam in the worst imaginable conditions to the shore with a line, enabling the rescue of 17 of the 26 crew members.

It would take another accident before an initiative was taken to establish an actual rescue service in the Faroe Islands. In 1957, the Icelandic trawler “Goðanes” crashed into a reef at the approach to Skálafjørð on the island of Eysturoy. Although there was a willingness to rescue the crew, the Faroe Islands were simply not equipped to handle such a situation. The captain of “Goðanes” died in the accident. Following this accident, the Icelandic rescue company, Slýsavarnafelag Íslands, donated equipment to the Faroese for rescuing crews from ships in distress, sparking the establishment of rescue associations around the Faroe Islands. These rescue associations have been very well equipped. And they have made great efforts when there has been a need for them.

It took some time before the Faroe Islands established a formal rescue service. This happened in 1976, in connection with the founding of the Fisheries Inspectorate. In addition to fisheries inspection, the inspectorate was also charged with the task of participating in search and rescue efforts at sea in cooperation with the MRCC, Maritime Rescue Coordination Center. The Fisheries Inspectorate also had a cooperation agreement with the large Faroese insurance company. This primarily involved towage and diving assistance. The Fisheries Inspectorate and Ships Inspectorate also cooperate on monitoring the conditions for crews on board ships. The Fisheries Inspectorate examines the crew documents, while the ships are fishing. It has the power to order ships into port if it finds violations of crewing and inspection regulations. The MRCC also cooperates to operate Tórshavn Radio, both agencies under the Ministry of Fisheries. 

MRCC Tórshavn is responsible for initiating and coordinating search and rescue efforts in Faroese waters. Cooperation agreements have been established with various partners, including: Atlantic Helicopters, Island Command Faroes, the Fisheries Inspectorate and our neighbouring countries regarding assistance in emergencies.

MRCC Tórshavn also has the task of receiving notification of oil spills in Faroese waters, organising patient transports by helicopter, forwarding notifications of terrorist threats against Faroese ships (ISPS) and to formulate and announce marine warnings.

The MRCC’s area of operation is out to 200 nautical miles from land, or to the midline between our neighbouring countries. The station is staffed around the clock throughout the year.

For added security, it is required by law that anyone who goes to sea must have taken a safety course, so that crews are well prepared in case of an emergency situation. In addition, ships today are much better equipped for safety, making life at sea much safer today than in the past.

Therefore, work at sea can now be considered a safe occupation. Deaths at sea are now rare, although absolute safety can never be achieved. But when something does happen, everything that can possibly be done to save human lives is done. 

Óli Jacobsen

Technical data:

Values: two stamps of 10,5 kr

Date of issue: 21-III-2012

Artist: Edward Fugl

Stamp size: 29,5 x 38,50 mm

Minisheet size: 105 x 70 mm

Perforation:

Technique: Offset

Printer: OeSD, Austria