It was the last day of March when the storm slammed into the east coast. The 85 MPH winds whipped the water into huge waves. As these broke on the New Jersey coast, they were 35 to 45 feet high.
The Norwegian freighter, the Norse Variant, was fighting these waves and having trouble. It was heading to Hamburg, Germany, loaded with coal when the storm hit. About midnight a distress call was received by the Coast Guard. It said, “Number 2 hatch broke open—ship sinking!” Then it gave its position as 150 miles southeast of Cape May.
During the remainder of the night two additional messages were received. The last message reported that the crew was abandoning ship. Then there was silence!
The Coast Guard on Governor’s Island responded quickly and sent three Coast Guard cutters and a Navy rescue boat to the ship’s last reported position. Air Force bases all along the coast sent rescue planes to look for the sinking ship and possible survivors. The strong winds and rain mixed with snow made the search very difficult. For two days they searched from dawn to dark as the weather and seas became more calm.
Late on the second day an empty life raft from the Norse Variant and a few pieces of debris were found southeast of the ship’s last known location. All hope for any survivors was almost given up.
The next morning Lieutenant Commander Edward Weilbacher took off in a search plane from Pease Air Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Nine men were with him in the search-and-rescue crew. They flew over the area where the Norse Variant had gone down. His crew carefully scanned the whole area with binoculars. Two rubber rafts were discovered; both were empty. Then another orange raft was spotted. As they flew over it they could see a man kneeling in the center of the raft. Weilbacher reported later: “We circled over him a few times. He was waving to us frantically. He seemed very excited. I can’t imagine how he survived in those sea conditions!”
A rescue team, carrying a radio and medical kit, parachuted from 1000 feet. They landed close to the raft and swam to it. The rescue team reported to the plane that the seaman was in good condition, and that he had not seen any other survivors in the three days he had been on the raft since the ship went down.
A rescue ship was then contacted by Weilbacher who directed it to the raft. With great difficulty, in waves that were still 15-20 feet, the rescue ship maneuvered close to the raft and rescued the seaman and the two parachutists. The seaman, Stein Gabrielsen, was transferred from the rescue ship to a hospital by helicopter. He was examined by doctors who found him slightly dehydrated, but otherwise, in good condition. He had survived a terrible experience in hurricane winds, high seas and near-freezing nights.
There is probably no one reading this story who has had an experience like this. What must it be like to spend three days alone in a raft under those conditions? What were Gabrielsen’s thoughts during those days and nights of being constantly tossed about? No doubt he spent much time thinking about his home and family. Perhaps he thought of some of his childhood experiences—some nice and some not so nice, because of wrong things he had done. We believe he must have thought about God and prayed that he might be rescued.
We know from God’s Word, the Bible, that “They that go down to the sea in ships... These see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep. For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof... their soul is melted because of trouble... Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses... Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalms 107:23-3123They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. 25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 28Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 30Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:23‑31).
We don’t know if Gabrielsen ever did “praise the Lord” or thank Him for being rescued. We do know that 29 men died when the Norse Variant went down. We hope that many of them turned to God and were saved by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We hope that each of you also know Him as your own Saviour. Have you ever stopped to think that you are on your way to an eternity in hell if you have not been rescued from your sins by the Lord Jesus? He died on the cross to save you. Accept Him now as your only hope of rescue. He has done everything for you, so that all you have to do is believe.
ML-12/06/1981