
Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat assists skipper of fishing vessel in difficulty
Castletownbere RNLI was launched today (Monday 5 December) at 12.45pm to go to the immediate assistance of a fishing trawler, drifting without power, between Dinish Island and Bere Island in West Cork.
The crew of a 30m fishing vessel raised the alarm when the boat experienced mechanical failure and was drifting without power and requested immediate assistance. Castletownbere RNLI's lifeboat, Annette Hutton, was requested and launched immediately under the command of Coxswain Dave Fenton with mechanic Marney O’Donoghue, and crew Sean Bawn O’Sullivan, Seamus Harrington and Carl Cronin.
The lifeboat was on scene within 10 minutes where a local boat had attached a rope to the stricken vessel. In addition, a local tugboat was on standby. There were fresh easterly winds Force 4/5. The lifeboat took the vessel under tow and proceeded towards Castletownbere Harbour.
At the entrance of the harbour, a second rope was attached from the stern of the disabled vessel to the tugboat. Once safely within the harbour, the vessel was berthed alongside the quay wall at Dinish Pier. The fishing boat skipper expressed his gratitude for the timely assistance of the lifeboat and local vessels.
Commenting on the call out, Felix O’Donoghue, Castletownbere RNLI Deputy Launching Authority, stated: ‘Thankfully, there was a swift response from our crew and we were pleased with the outcome and we acknowledge the assistance of other vessels involved in the operation’.
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