Casper Shipping thanked for services provided
03/5/2011
On the evening of Friday 8th April the 3rd Engineer on board the MT Dutch Mate (Ton Poel), was taken seriously ill as the vessel was scheduled to anchor prior to entering port at Grangemouth.The coast guard lifeboat collected him from the vessel and transferred him via ambulance to Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline. Upon further doctors examination, he was later transferred to the Specialised Head Injury Clinic at Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. Erik Smidt (Essberger Fleet Manager), Johanna Zom (Ton’s Mother) and Bregje Steenbeek (Ton’s Partner) arrived in Edinburgh the next morning and were met at the airport by Casper Shipping MD, Michael Shakesheff and taken to the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. Over the weekend and during the next week other members of Ton’s and Bregje’s family arrived to lend their support and at one stage there were 10 family members occupying a small room in the ITC unit all praying for Ton to make a recovery. Ton was in a critical condition and underwent an operation on Monday 11th April but remained unconscious for a further week. After coming round Ton started to make a steady recovery and on the 27th April had a further operation to improve his recovery, this went very well, and most of his family were confident enough to return home on the 28th April. Klaas De Wit (Essberger Crewing Manager) arrived at lunch time 3rd May and spent the afternoon at the hospital before accompanying Ton later that evening home to the Netherlands where we hope his recovery is swift in what is a great result compared to the possible outcome. Casper Shipping Ltd and in particular Doug Couser (Grangemouth Manager) were pleased to assist Ton and his family in his hour of need and received the under noted messages: A thank you card from the family read;‘Thank you for all the help and support you gave us during our stay here. It certainly made the situation a bit more bearable. We’re thankful that Ton is now fit to go home.’ Email received from John Putter, MD, JT Essberger read:‘I would like to thank you on behalf of the family and the organization in Dordrecht of all the services you have rendering to us and especially to the family of Ton Poel.You and your office have been a great helping hand towards us. One can always say it is our job but it is the extra thing which makes you and your organization a bit more special, which we know already for some years and hopefully the next years to come.I know I can say it on behalf of our organization and the Family of Ton as well: Thank You and your staff as well.’