19m fishing vessel escorted to safety by Scarborough RNLI
Six fishermen were brought to safety on the morning of Wednesday 15 March 2023 by the crew of Scarborough RNLI lifeboat. Their vessel had developed mechanical problems whilst fishing for scollops off the Yorkshire coast.
The all-weather lifeboat RNLB Fredrick William Plaxton launched at 5:47am, following a crew pager alert and proceeded four miles east off Scarborough.
Visibility was good, with a south westerly wind force three to four. Sea state was moderate with up to a metre of swell.
Scarborough RNLI's Coxswain carried out an assessment of the vessel which was found to have engine failure. As the vessel had no propulsion and was unable to return to port under its own power, it was decided the best and safest course of action was to tow the vessel back to Scarborough Harbour.
A towline was established, and a course was set for Scarborough harbour at 6:45am. Due to the casualty’s vessel size and weight, the tow was slow and steady. The vessels arrived into the harbour around 8:30am and HM Coastguard assisted with safely mooring the vessel up alongside.
Speaking after the callout, RNLI Scarborough’s Coxswain said: 'We located the fishing vessel drifting four miles east of Scarborough harbour. After assessing the situation and deciding that a tow was the safest course of action, the crew worked well and had no difficulties preparing a towline. The tow home was slow due to the size and weight of the casualty vessel, adjusting the towline as required to suit the conditions.'
When going afloat the RNLI would remind everyone to check their engine and fuel, always wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid, and carry a means of calling for help. If you see someone in difficulty on or near the water, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
For more information please visit https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/commercial-fishing
Notes to editors
Scarborough lifeboat station has been operating since 1801. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/scarborough-lifeboat-station
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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.
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