Overview
- The 21‑metre crab cutter Neptun became unsteerable Monday morning after the captain reported a suspected line caught in the propeller and drifted onto the Spitzsand sandbank about four kilometres north of Cuxhaven.
- The DGzRS rescue cruiser HANS HACKMACK from Cuxhaven was dispatched and established a tow line despite north‑west wind at force 6 and a strong ebb current.
- Rescue crews freed and towed the Neptun into deeper water, then cleared the propeller blockage so the vessel could proceed under its own power back to Cuxhaven.
- All three crew members — the captain and two deckhands — were safe and remained on board during the rescue and return to port.
- Sandbanks like Spitzsand and fouled propellers are known local hazards for small North Sea fishing vessels, underscoring the ongoing importance of DGzRS rapid‑response capability.