On March 30, the bulk carrier ORE HONG KONG approached the rowing boat AKROS at sunset. By the time the maneuvering was completed, it was already completely dark. Our initial plan to lower a dinghy or ship’s boat did not work out.
A life line gun was used to tow the AKROS. Thanks to an accurate shot, the line was successfully thrown onto the rowing boat. Fedor then secured it to his towing line, and the boat was gradually pulled toward the stern of the cargo ship, near the rudder. A ladder was lowered from the deck for him to climb up.
The ship’s draft is 22 meters, so he had to climb all the way up in full wet weather gear and sailing boots.
Since the ship was only partially loaded, the rudder was half-exposed—massive in size.
The ocean swell tossed the rowing boat several times, slamming it hard against the hull of the cargo ship. By then, Fedor was already climbing the ladder. He heard cracking sounds but could no longer assess the extent of the damage.
Catching the right rhythm and stepping from the boat onto the ladder was a challenge in itself.
“Good thing I’ve climbed Everest twice—it helped.”
The crew had previously lowered a rope, and while still in the boat, Fedor managed to secure both of his waterproof bags, which contained his satellite phones, diaries, and personal belongings. These were successfully retrieved onto the ship’s deck. Fedor later called his shore crew using his satellite phone.
The cargo ship’s crew documented the entire operation with photos and videos—we are awaiting the footage.
After completing the necessary formalities, Fedor was taken to the ship’s infirmary, which will be his cabin for the next three weeks. The estimated time of arrival in Qingdao is April 20–21.
The ship’s captain personally called the headquarters to confirm that Fedor was in safe hands, assuring his family and team not to worry.
The rowing boat AKROS could not be lifted onto the cargo ship, nor was any attempt made. The crew focused solely on evacuating Fedor. The boat was securely sealed and left to drift in the Indian Ocean. Its AIS and satellite tracker (Iridium Rockstar) are still operational, and a strobe light has been left on.
The headquarters will monitor its drift (as long as the tracking devices function) and, together with Australian partners, plans to retrieve the boat near the Australian coast. However, this is not expected to happen for at least six months.
Today marked Fedor’s 115th day at sea. Now, we can say the journey is over—Fedor Konyukhov is on board a massive ship and safe.
He admitted he teared up as the ship moved away from his rowing boat. He had been through so much with it—154 days in the Pacific in 2019 and 115 days this year. In total, it had been his home for 269 days in the harsh latitudes of the Southern Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
This was not an easy decision, especially for FedorKonyukhov. In all his 73 years, he had always returned to port with the yacht or boat he set out on. He had never abandoned his vessel—his home at sea. This was the first evacuation of his life. While some of his projects and expeditions have ended prematurely, this was the first time he had to be rescued.
We will wait for Fedor to recover from the intense and dangerous events of the day and share more details.
The project team thanks the crew of ORE HONG KONG, NSRI of South African (National Sea Rescue Institute) and the MRCC Réunion Island for their precise and professional work.