Sunk at 52° 05′ North, 30° 59′ West

25 August 1942, 00:10.

I was completely alone in the dark water, my lifejacket held me floating while I saw the big ship slowly settle and sink beneath the waves in the moonlight between the clouds. I had been thrown of the ship on starboard side [opposite the side where the lifeboats and most rafts were]  and been unconscious for a short while.  At that time I didn’t know if anyone else made it of the ship. So there I was, floating, alone, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean:  I felt incredibly lonely.  
Then only a short distance away suddenly the U-boat surfaced. I didn’t move.
Gunner Walter MacNab

U-604 at 00:20

U-604 surfaced to determine which ship they sank. KptLt Holtring does not see the lifeboats and does not want to stay long in case help is underway. So he makes an estimate of the ship he torpedoed. As it turns out he more than slightly exaggerates the size and misinterprets the noise of Abbekerks diesel engines.

W 2, Sea 2, with NW-swell, overcast, Vis. very good, 1012 mb, +11°C 
At the sinking location a destroyed lifeboat and much wreckage, no manned boats.  Therefore no name possible.  Size estimated at 12000 GRT.  At the shot the steamer completely filled the U.Z.O.[= night periscoop] , with a part of the foreship and as well the aftership no longer in the field of view.  By sound the propulsion was turbine.
KTB U-604, KptLt Holtring

The first torpedo hit in hold 3 at 23:45, the second, in the engine room at 23:56.

Abbekerk’s lifeboat at 0:20

When the ship had disappearde all was very, very quiet. The world was now very unreal.
But reality was soon restored. There was rowing to be done and calling to the other boat, which brought the two boats together. Also a raft was found and some men found some room on that for we were really a bit crowded. It was still dark and not everyone was settled in yet. It was decided to tie the two boats and the raft together and await daylight.
The sea was calm but there is always a long swell in the ocean. On top of this swell are a number of smaller waves. This became too much for my balancing organs and I became seasick. I had never been seasick but now it got me well and truly. 
Assistent Engineer Adriaan Kik

When we called the roll it became apparent that the first mate and the young cook where missing. The first mate was seen well and fully clothed after the first torpedo but went back to his cabin and probably wounded, killed of stuck when the second torpedo hit. The young cook belonged originally in one of the starboard lifeboats and probably was standing there when the second torpedo exploded under him.
Since both lifeboats were to crowded to row some of the men were parked on one of the rafts. With both boats now we visited all the rafts floating around and stripped them from their provisions and water, so we had ample supplies! After that all survivors were divided over the two boats.
Third mate Jacob Visser

U-604 at 0:20

KptLt Holtring adds a compliment to his Chief Engineer in his war log.

During the pursuit, at the suggestion of the Engineering Officer, converted main ballast and reserve fuel oil tanks 2 and 4 for use as ballast tanks. The remaining fuel oil, 1 ton, was transferred from the ballast tanks to the regulating and reserve fuel oil tank. At the same time the negative buoyancy tanks were blown. Thereby gaining about 1 knot. With the high enemy speed of 16 knots these measures were decisive.
KTB U-604 KptLt Holtring

It really had been a close call.