The fishing crews of the Maid of Amsterdam and the Atlantic Treasure pose for a group photo in the wheelhouse of the Maid of Amsterdam following a nighttime rescue on the Grand Banks. CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentPrior to Aug. 18, Cape Sable Island fisherman Jimmie Atwood and Clare fisherman Noah Deveau only casually knew each other.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThat all changed when on this day, Atwood and his crew aboard the Maid of Amsterdam rescued Deveau and his crew from a life raft on the Grand Banks in the Atlantic Ocean.Article contentArticle content“We know each other now,” says Atwood, laughing.Article contentBoth fishing boats were on their way in from the fishing grounds when the mishap at sea occurred.Article contentArticle contentDeveau and his crew were forced to abandon their vessel, the Atlantic Treasure, after the vessel began taking on water.Article contentA mayday went out. After checking the coordinates, Atwood realized his boat wasn’t very far from Deveau and his crew – about 40 kilometres, he says.Article content“I turned around and snubbed her wide open. I don’t like running my engine hard, but I had no choice,” Atwood says. “I called the Coast Guard to let them know where I was. I said, ‘I think I’m the closest one,’ and they said, yes.”Article contentAtwood was able to speak with Deveau, the stricken vessel’s captain, several times before Deveau abandoned ship and again when he was in the life raft with the crew. Because the Atlantic Treasure was still afloat, the vessel still had electricity to power the lights and the Starlink satellite system.Article content“He said, I’m not going to be able to keep her afloat. He called me again when they were getting in the life raft. He said I’m in the life raft,” says Atwood. “I said, I’ll be there in three hours. I’ve got your position. Take your buoys with you, everything you need, and I’ll be able to find you.”Article contentArticle contentArticle content Crew aboard the Maid of Amsterdam rescued the crew of the Atlantic Treasure from a life raft on the Grand Banks on Aug. 18, who were forced to abandon ship when it started taking on water. CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentArticle contentAtwood says the first thing he saw when he arrived on the scene was the Atlantic Treasure.Article content“It was going to sink, but it was still sitting there afloat,” he says.Article contentAbout then, Deveau and his crew turned on a SART (Search and Rescue Transponder) beacon.Article content“It showed up on my two plotters and told me exactly where they were, what course to take, everything,” recalls Atwood. “I turned and followed that line and got to them.”Article contentDeveau and his crew had also taken their AIS buoys with them. Used by fishermen to mark gear, the buoys send out a satellite signal and a VHS signal, explains Atwood.Article content“When they seen me, they started turning them on so I could see the signal from them,” he says.Article contentThe life raft was about a quarter mile away.Article contentReaching the life raft, Atwood turned the Maid of Amsterdam so the life raft was in the lee of the wind and put his overboard ladder over the rail.
They knew what to do, we knew what to do: Southwestern NS fishermen involved in Grand Banks rescue of crew
