18 foot pleasure fishing boat towed into Hartlepool Marina by Hartlepool RNLI

HM Coastguard requested the assistance of Hartlepool RNLI’s inshore lifeboat at 8.10pm to help a fishing boat that had suffered mechanical failure. Hartlepool RNLI’s Atlantic 85 was launched by its volunteer crew at 8.21pn and was on scene at 8.29pm.

Hartlepool RNLI’s volunteer Helmsman, Ken Hay, said ‘When we arrived on scene the fishing boat, with 2 adult males and 1 youth onboard, was at anchor. The youth was feeling a bit sickly so we transferred him to the inshore lifeboat and volunteer crewmember, Rob Archer, went aboard the stricken vessel to help negotiate its safe passage into Hartlepool Marina.

We quickly attached a towline onto the bow of the fishing boat and towed it into the safety of Hartlepool Marina arriving there at 9.00pm.

Mike Craddy, Hartlepool RNLI’s operations manager said ‘We cannot stress strongly enough how important it is that vessels and equipment are maintained well before going to sea. ‘

Hartlepool RNLI’s inshore lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service at 9.12pm.

Notes to editors

Picture caption

Hartlepool RNLI’s inshore lifeboat tows the stricken pleasure fishing boat into Hartlepool Marina

•  Hartlepool lifeboat station has been operating since 1803. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org/hartlepool

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Malcolm Wallis, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07538 006694 or [email protected] or Alison Levett RNLI Media Relations Manager North on 07786 668912 or [email protected] contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, 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.