Barrow lifeboats called to assist stricken fishing vessel
Volunteer crew from the RNLI’s Barrow station launched both their lifeboats yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 12 October) to go to the aid of a fishing vessel which had broken down to the south of Walney Island.
The request to launch the lifeboat came from Holyhead Coastguard at 4:35pm. The information received was that a seven metre-long fishing vessel had lost power in the vicinity of Halfway Shoal Beacon off the south end of Walney Island.
The Barrow Lifeboat, Grace Dixon, was launched at 4:45pm under the command of Coxswain Shaun Charnley with five crew members on board. The lifeboat made good progress to the scene and was alongside the stricken boat at 5:00pm.
After assessing the situation, it was decided to take the vessel under tow to a safe mooring near Jubilee Bridge.
A line was soon attached and the tow commenced. However, the location of the mooring at Chapel Bed was deemed potentially too shallow for the Grace Dixon to reach safely and therefore it was decided to launch the inshore lifeboat to assist.
The Vision of Tamworth was duly launched at 5:55pm with Jonny Long at the helm, supported by two crew. It proceeded northwards along Walney Channel where it took over the tow from the Grace Dixon.
At 6:30pm the casualty vessel was made secure on the mooring and The Vision of Tamworth was stood down.
Both lifeboats returned to the Barrow RNLI Boathouse at 7:00pm where they were washed down and made ready for the next launch.
The weather conditions at the time were fine, with a Westerly wind, force four. Visibility was fair and the next high water was due at 8:21pm with a predicted height of 8.0 metres.
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