Arranmore RNLI lifeboat crew on fourteen and half hour rescue mission
Arranmore RNLI lifeboat crew responded to their third call out in a week today (Friday 18 August) to assist a 24 metre, 245 tonne fishing boat with five people on board which got into difficulty after experiencing engine failure.
The fishing vessel, which left Killybegs in the early hours got into difficulty when its engine failed 10 miles north-west of Glen Head. The Arranmore lifeboat launched at 3.30am and reached the casualty vessel at 5am.
Weather conditions at the time were challenging with a two-metre swell and west, south-west wind of force 5-7. Having reached the fishing vessel in darkness the lifeboat managed to get a tow rope on board but the tow rope broke several times because of the weight of the boat and the high sea swell. Having finally secured the rope the lifeboat proceeded to tow the boat to Killybegs harbour.
After a tow which took nine hours the fishing vessel was finally safely berthed at Killybegs and the lifeboat returned to base at 6pm, a full fourteen a half hours after it the lifeboat crew had departed for the callout.
Arranmore RNLI Coxswain, Jimmy Early paid tribute to the crew of the fishing vessel, ‘they were a very experienced fishing crew and knew exactly what was required to bring them safely ashore, now it's bedtime, hopefully.’
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