Donate now

Hartlepool RNLI assist trawler

Lifeboats News Release

Hartlepool RNLI volunteers were paged at 12.11pm on Monday 18th May to assist a 140 ton, 24 metre trawler with four crew on board that had suffered mechanical failure the previous evening south of Hartlepool and was being towed to Hartlepool Fish Quay by another trawler.

RNLI/Tom Collins

Hartlepool RNLI alb assisting the trawler towing the casualty vessel(right) to Hartlepool Fish Quay.
Download image
Hartlepool all weather lifeboat met the trawler towing the casualty vessel off the nearby Heugh breakwater and assisted the towing trawler to bring the casualty vessel safely to Hartlepool Fish Quay where the local Coastguard team were waiting to assist with mooring lines.
The alb returned to the Ferry Road boathouse at 1.55pm and was refuelled and made ready for service by 2.15pm
Hartlepool RNLI coxswain Robbie Maiden said ‘What could have been a difficult tow was made easier by excellent teamwork from our volunteer crew and good communication with the towing vessel’.
‘Hartlepool RNLI remains on call and is fully operational during the Coronavirus pandemic. Whilst there is no crew training or exercises taking place our volunteers are here if people need us.’



RNLI/Jordan Craddy

Hartlepool RNLI alb assisting the trawler towing the casualty vessel to Hartlepool Fish Quay.
Download image

RNLI/Tom Collins

A view from the bridge of the Hartlepool RNLI alb during the towing operation.
Download image

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.

About the author

Tom Collins
Lifeboat Press Officer, Hartlepool Lifeboat Station

Categories