Niels Bätge was the captain on the destroyer. He did not survive the accident.

Shortly before the explosion Egon Lutomsky overheard the destroyer's captain and first mate disputing on how to run the operation.

The first mate had a long experience from the merchant fleet. And he knew these waters well. His views differed from those of the captain. But the captain who was very arrogant said this is my ship, I am it’s captain and I run matters here. He really got everything his way.