Wells inshore lifeboat launches to aid 26 foot fishing vessel
Wells inshore lifeboat was paged by HM Coastguard at 12:52am on 17 February to render assistance to a 26 foot fishing vessel with two crew onboard that had become disabled after fouling its propeller.
The vessel was anchored in the approaches to the harbour channel but due to the strong flood tide the anchor wasn't holding. Wells inshore lifeboat launched in front of the boathouse at 1:05am with three crew onboard and proceeded towards the casualty vessel.
The inshore lifeboat arrived on scene at 1:10am and assessed the situation with the crew of the fishing vessel. It was decided that the best course of action would be to tow the disabled craft out of the harbour channel, where it was posing a navigational hazard, and into the safety of Wells Outer Harbour.
The volunteer lifeboat crew rigged the tow and, at 1:21am, proceeded towards the Outer Harbour where the lifeboat shore crew were waiting to take their lines. The fishing vessel was secured at 1:45am and the inshore lifeboat returned to Station for recovery. She was ashore at 1:50am and re-housed, re-fuelled and ready for service a 2:30am.
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