Holyhead RNLI Assist Stricken Vessel in Harbour

The 40ft vessel had been moored in Holyhead Harbour, but had broken away from her mooring, and drifted onto rocks near the end of the breakwater, where she had run aground.

HM Coastguard, along with the Port Authority, mounted a rescue operation, and requested the attendance of Holyhead’s Severn-class lifeboat Christopher Pearce, amid safety issues resulting from the location of vessel, a potential hazard to the nearby shipping lane. There was also concern that the casualty vessel had developed a hole and was taking on water. The boat’s owner and a fellow sailor had boarded her in an attempt to oversee the rescue.

The lifeboat attended the scene just before 10am. The smaller D-class lifeboat, Mary and Archie Hooper, was then also requested. Initially, the salvage pump from the all-weather lifeboat was used to attempt to stem the flow of water, but when this failed, the decision was made to remove all persons from the boat, to the safety of the lifeboat, while a commercial tug towed the stricken vessel to a safer location.

Once the two sailors were safe, the lifeboats were stood down, and the operation was carried on by tug.

The Christopher Pearce headed back to her berth in the inner port, and the D-class returned to the lifeboat station. Both boats were then fully sanitised and prepared for any further calls.

Holyhead lifeboat coxswain Tony Price said:

‘Our role was to ensure the safety of all concerned in the vessel’s rescue. We were happy to assist the local sailors, and prevent any injuries, loss of life or hazard in the local waters, and to bring the two men on board to safety as the vessel began taking on more water.’

He added, ‘I’m pleased to report there was no pollution risk as a result of the incident, and our volunteer crew worked well with the local port authority, under the guidance of the UK Coastguard.’



For further information, please contact Vicki Owens, Holyhead Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07531 681409, or email [email protected]

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.