Llandudno lifeboat responds to urgent call to assist disabled fishing boat

Llandudno’s all-weather lifeboat William F Yates commanded by the Coxswain with a crew of five were tasked to launch at 11.25 am on Tuesday morning to rescue a forty-seven tonne fishing boat in difficulties and drifting close to a major shipping line. The vessel with four crew on board issued a PAN-PAN call at approx. 11.23 am. PAN-PAN is the international standard urgency signal that someone aboard a boat, ship, aircraft, or other vehicle uses to declare that they have a situation that is urgent, but for the time being, does not pose an immediate danger to anyone's life or to the vessel itself.

After launch, the Llandudno lifeboat proceeded twelve nautical miles north of the Great Orme to the reported location. On scene and in communication with the fishing boat skipper, Holyhead Coastguard and the Llandudno Lifeboat Operations the Coxswain assessed the situation and agreed to undertake an essential tow to relocate the fishing boat to a safer location and away from the busy shipping lane.

Coxswain Les Jones described how ‘in these situations, there are regulations we have to follow, there is also critical need to thoroughly assess all the possible risks, and to safely put a line on board before beginning a gradual tow to the nearest safe mooring. On this occasion this was at Moelfre off Anglesey.’

Moelfre inshore lifeboat also launched to assist Llandudno lifeboat in securing the disabled fishing trawler to the safe mooring in Moelfre.

After a six-hour operation the lifeboat and her volunteer crew finally made the journey back to Llandudno at 6pm to be recovered and prepared for her next service by the awaiting shore crew.

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For more information, please contact Jonathan Coe, Llandudno Lifeboat Press Officer on 07910 861193. Alternatively contact Eleri Roberts, RNLI Media Officer on 01745 585162 / 07771 941390 or email [email protected].

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