A violent northwester storm runs the Panamanian cargo ship "Faustus" aground near Hoek van Holland. The lifeboat "Jan Lels" disembarks the crew. Because of the heavy water, at night the abandoned ship first drifts through the Noorderhoofd and leaves a big hole before finally sinking to the bottom of the Nieuwe Waterweg in the middle of the channel. After the local authorities inspect the damage on the North jetty and find that the precise location of the wreck has not yet been found, they declare the Nieuwe Waterweg closed for all shipping traffic until further notice. Later on, after localising the wreck, the channel is released for smaller ships. A Polygoon cameraman, Peter Kaart, was allowed to sail with the lifeboat and was able to film the rescue of the Greek crew from the "Faustus" from very close by. SHOTS: - High waves in the sea with crest; waves burst apart against the dike; - long shot: the "Faustus" lies, listing heavily, stranded near the North jetty; - the lifeboat sails and returns with the crew of the cargo ship; several shots from and of the "Jan Lels" during the passage to and from the "Faustus"; - the lifeboat comes alongside the cargo ship; the crew of the cargo ship transfers; - with the help of animation and a map it is shown how the "Faustus" drifts in the sea at night in the dark and breaks through the Noorddam; - waves crash with force through the hole in the jetty; - aerial footage of the hole in the jetty and of ships lying anchored offshore, a.o. the "Maasdam"; - the "Nieuw Amsterdam" lies by the quay in Amsterdam, forced to redirect there; - at the location of the wreck a buoy has been placed; spectators on the jetty see the small shipping traffic get started again.