A hundred men saved from drowning

Søren Hansen Nabben (1737-1806)

In the autumn of 1791, the frigate “Gerner” was caught in a heavy storm in the Skagerrak, off the coast of Arendal. With a hundred people on board, they desperately needed a safe harbour, but none of the local pilots seemed to dare the bad weather.

Finally, the pilot Søren Nabben from the small coastal hamlet of Merdø decided to set sail. His son Mikkel and the young pilot Jens Taarup Tønnessen came along, and they slowly made their way through the breaking waves.

Søren Hansen Nabben was born on the island of Merdø in 1737. Pilotage was a main occupation for the men in the small community, and an official pilot station was established there already in the 1720ies, shortly after the organization of the public pilot service.

The profession as pilot was often passed on from father to son. The young boys had to take duty keeping watch for approaching ships, and they served as “crew” on board the small, open boats used by the pilots, with the responsibility to sail the boat safely back home after the pilot had entered the incoming ship. Often, there was strong competition among the pilots, the boats racing each other to get to the ships first and win the commission.

Søren, Mikkel and Jens knew their skills and navigated safely through the breakers till they reached the frigate. A rope was thrown from the ship to the pilot-boat, and Jens tied it around his waist and jumped overboard, to be hauled aboard “Gerner”.

Jens Taarup led the frigate safely into harbour in Arendal, and all onboard were saved. Søren Nabben and his son on the other hand, sailed back to Merdø, having fulfilled their duty.

As an honour to his bravery, Jens Taarup was awarded a medal from the King. Although Søren Nabben was said to approve of this, the citizens of Arendal felt that Søren Nabben should have been equally honoured as a hero. It was his dedication and expertise that had made the rescue operation possible.

As a compensation, a silver tankard with an inscription was ordered and presented to the pilot at a solemn celebration.
Søren Nabben was not a person to brag about his deeds. He knew too well the dangers of his profession. A few years after “Gerner” was saved, he experienced the grief of loosing two of his sons, capsizing on their way home, after setting him aboard a ship.