FESTIJN

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Lifeboat took off 63 passengers of disabled excursion vessel

On July 8, 2025, at 11.16 a.m. the KNREM lifeboat 'Zeemanshoop' was alertted to the 'Festijn', which had suffered smoke development in the engine room with 63 passengers on borad, in the waterway along the Hoofd Plate off Breskens. The master immediately dropped anchor and alerted the Coastguard, who then notified the 'Zeemanshoop'. The lifeboat quickly arrived on the scene and began evacuating all 63 passengers. Once they were all on board, the 'Zeemanshoop' sailed back to the port of Breskens. In the port, the Sluis municipal public order and safety officer (AOV) and the police assisted, and all passengers were safely brought ashore. The lifeboat then set course for the 'Festijn' again to secure the situation. Due to the wind, the rising tide, and the ship's position, a temporary tow connection was established at the request of the Rijkswaterstaat. The patrol boat 'RWS79' had arrived in the meantime and managed to hold the casualty in position while awaiting the tug 'CMS Warrior' of Muiltrashgip. It took over the towing connection, and the lifeboat was stood down. Winds on scene were Northwest, 4 Beaufort. Report with photos: https://www.knrm.nl/nieuws/knrm-reddingstation-breskens/63-personen-geevacueerd-van-rondvaartboot-met-rook-in-de-machinekamer

Excursion ship ran aground off Breskens

The "Festijn" ran aground near Breskens in the morning of July 25, 2016. The lifeboat "Zeemanshoop" was called at 9.52 a.m. by th Dutch Coastguard in order to disembark 27 persons from the ship which was stuck on the Breskens Plate and unable to free itself. The lifeboat was on scene within 10 minutes and able to reach the grounded ship due to its small draught. 26 passaengers and one crew member were taken ashore. The master and another crew member remained aboard waiting for the high tide in the evening to get the ship off. Dutch reports with photos: https://www.knrm.nl/nieuws/knrm-reddingstation-breskens/reddingboot-breskens-evacueert-27-personen http://www.hvzeeland.nl/nieuws/30031-opvarenden-rondvaartboot-geevacueerd/ http://www.bndestem.nl/regio/zeeland/rondvaartboot-festijn-strandt-op-plaat-breskens-1.6219015

Medical emergency off Breskens

In the afternoon of Nov 9, 2015, the KNRM-boat from Breskens was requested to render medical assistance to a passenger of the "Festijn" which was suffering severe back pain, and the owner asked the lifeboat to retrieve the man. The lifeboat skipper recommended first to ask the Radio Medical Service to enable the KNRM and decide whether a medical evacuation was necessary. But immediately after giving this advice the man became unconscious, and the lifeboat skipper directly contacted the Coast Guard and alerted the Breskense lifeboat crew. The fishing boat raised its anchor and set sail towards Breskens. Ten minutes later the lifeboat "Zeemanshoop" was on the spot. Two crewmembers were transferred aboard the "Festijn" to assess the situation. The man had since regained consciousness but still a lot of back pain. It was decided to let the man lie stable and not evacuate him to the lifeboat and serve him oxygen. The lifeboat sailed back to Breskens, where the ambulance had already arrived. Moments later, the ambulance personnel was transferred aboard to treat the patient who was disembarked at the KNRM pontoon on a stretcher and taken to the hospital in Bruges. Dutch report with photos: https://www.knrm.nl/waar-wij-zijn/reddingstations/breskens/reddingrapporten/medische-noodsituatie-op-hengelboot-64a5b3aeae