Sennen Cove RNLI volunteers launch to disabled fishing vessel
On Sunday 9 January at 9.15pm HM Coastguard Falmouth requested the assistance of the Sennen Cove Tamar class lifeboat. They had received a call for assistance from a 18 metre fishing vessel that had been disabled eight miles north-north-west of Sennen Cove.
The 18 metre fishing vessel had fouled her propeller on something in the water and was held fast. Unable to free herself in the rough conditions, her skipper asked HM Coastguard at Falmouth for help.
The all-weather lifeboat City of London III launched into rough seas around 9.33pm, under the command of Second Coxswain Dan Shannon, with a total of six RNLI volunteer crew on board. Launching conditions were quite poor so the RNLI volunteers had to wait for a lull in the swell for the safest opportunity to launch.
Once clear of Sennen Cove they proceeded at a safe speed in a heavy swell towards the casualty vessel arriving around 10pm.
On arriving on scene and following discussions with the vessel’s skipper a line was passed to the casualty vessel to attempt to pull the fishing boat away from the obstruction. This was carried out successfully and the vessel was free at 10.20pm
As the casualty vessel was unable to continue under her own power and she remained a risk to other vessels using the Lands End Traffic Separation Scheme, Second Coxswain Dan Shannon made the decision that undertaking a tow to the nearest safe and suitable port was necessary and the safest way to assist the fishing boat and her crew.
The Tamar class lifeboat started towing the casualty to the vessel’s home port of Newlyn, a trip of approximately 25 miles.
Steady progress was made towing the fishing vessel in the poor conditions off Lands End with the lifeboat and casualty arriving at Newlyn Harbour at 2.30am.
As sea conditions in Sennen Cove were too poor to recover the lifeboat, it was necessary for the crew to leave the lifeboat in the safety of Newlyn Harbour until sea conditions in Sennen Cove improve enough to allow a safe recovery back into the lifeboat station.
Notes to editors
For more information, please telephone Tim Stevens, Lifeboat Press Officer on 07971518403 or [email protected] or Brian Simpson, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Deputy Press Officer on 01736 871631, or 07762 057127 or [email protected], or Amy Caldwell, Regional Media Manager on 07920818807 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789
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