RNLI Fleetwood assist fishing boat off Blackpool

The volunteer crew reached the ten-metre fishing vessel approximately five miles off Blackpool beach, where assessment of the situation showed that the vessel’s propeller had become fouled by its own trawling net. The Coxswain of the Fleetwood Lifeboat requested assistance from Blackpool’s Atlantic 85 William and Eleanor, which launched to provide support while the procedure was carried out safely.

Because the net was free of the sea bed and the casualty vessel was unable to make way under her own power, the decision was made to tow her to safe harbour to prevent a hazard to navigation. Since the casualty vessel’s radio was no longer operational due to other issues, a volunteer crewmember was placed aboard the casualty vessel with a radio to maintain communication throughout the towing process.

The charity’s Fleetwood boat was then able to tow the casualty vessel to their safe mooring at Fleetwood while the Blackpool boat returned to station. Fleetwood’s Inshore Lifeboat Harbet provided assistance with the mooring procedure.

Emma Roney, Launch Authority on duty for the callout, said:

‘At times like this, being able to work with the support of our flank stations shows the true One Crew ethos of the RNLI, and everyone involved behaved in an exemplary manner. I’d like to thank our fellow volunteers from Blackpool for their help, and Lytham station for the support that they’ve been providing as well. The secret of this shout’s success was, once again, rooted in good communication: both between our crews and from the casualty vessel itself, who knew to call for assistance as soon as they realised it was needed.’

Notes to editors

• Fleetwood’s RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat is name KENNETH JAMES PIERPOINT and is a Shannon class boat.

• Fleetwood’s RNLI Inshore Lifeboat is named HARBET and is a D-Class boat.

• Photo credit: RNLI/RNLI Fleetwood, RNLI/Emma Roney

• The RNLI is supported entirely through voluntary donations, and Fleetwood lifeboat station has been operating since 1859. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: http://fleetwoodlifeboat.org.uk/

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

David Devereux, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Fleetwood, [email protected]

Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]

Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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