Dunbar RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers assist stricken trawler in all-night callout

After being paged by HM Coastguard at 9pm, the all-weather lifeboat John Neville Taylor launched from Dunbar Harbour and was on scene just before 10pm. The Pittenweem-registered vessel had become tail-tied in its own nets and the five-person crew had issued a pan-pan call for urgent assistance.

Once Dunbar deputy coxswain Gordon Mackay assessed all available options, and given the trawler’s size and draught and the rough sea state, it was decided to tow the vessel to Eyemouth Harbour. On arrival at the harbour, the Dunbar crew was met by Eyemouth RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat ‘Helen Hastings’. After both lifeboats combined to berth the trawler, the Dunbar volunteers departed Eyemouth at 4.30am and had refuelled and returned to the harbour by 6am, nine hours after the alarm was raised.

Notes to editors

· Established in 1808, 16 years before the formation of the RNLI, Dunbar Lifeboat Station is one of the oldest in Scotland and is located on the south side of the mouth of the Firth of Forth.

· Since its formation, its volunteer crews have been honoured with 12 awards for gallantry.

· It operates two lifeboats – the Trent class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) John Neville Taylor, moored at Torness Power Station, and the D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) David Lauder, which launches from Dunbar Harbour.

· A file photo of Dunbar’s lifeboats can be viewed here.

If you get into trouble on the water call 999 and ask for the coastguard.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Douglas Wight, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, [email protected]

Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.