First launch of 2025 to stricken fishing vessel for Fishguard RNLI

The volunteer crew were paged at 11.04am on Monday 13 January for the first time in 2025 at the request of HM Coastguard to provide assistance to a 16m fishing vessel with 6 persons on board which had lost propulsion 16 miles north north-west of Fishguard.

Prior to launch the Coastguard confirmed that there were no suitable vessels available in vicinity to provide assistance in towing the vessel. Due to the prevailing conditions and proximity to the busier areas of the channel, the decision was made to launch the charity’s all-weather Trent class lifeboat Blue Peter VII and make way to the vessel’s last known location.

With a strong breeze and rough sea the lifeboat made best speed to the casualty vessel. Once on scene the coxswain of the lifeboat conducted a risk assessment in relation to the safest course of action to take. It was determined that with no other vessel available to undertake a tow, the risks involved with transferring crew between vessels and further risks to navigation which the drifting vessel could cause, the lifeboat would establish a tow and take the fishing vessel to the nearest safe port of Fishguard who had agreed to accept the

vessel.

The volunteer crew prepared the lifeboat's tow lines and passed the line to the casualty vessel to make fast. With all lines secured the lifeboat began its long journey back to Fishguard. After approximately 4 hours towing, the two vessels arrived outside of Fishguard Harbour where the volunteer crew set about shortening the length of tow line between the vessels, before crew on the casualty vessel were instructed to remove the lines from their vessel.

The lifeboat then manoeuvred alongside the casualty vessel and crew passed mooring lines to establish an alongside tow. The lifeboat entered the harbour with the casualty vessel. It was then positioned alongside the harbour wall where it was met by additional volunteer crew to assist with tying up to the wall, where the crew of the casualty vessel could arrange for repairs to be made. With the vessel safely secured within the harbour, the lifeboat returned to station - 7 hours after the initial request to launch.

Full-time station Coxswain, Gemma Gill said:

‘The skipper of the casualty vessel did the correct thing when realising that propulsion had been lost and made contact with HM Coastguard. Whilst every effort is made to mitigate risk, towing is one activity where the potential risks involved to the crew, lifeboat and casualties are higher.

'We conduct a strict risk assessment as to whether establishing a tow is the best course of action to preserve life. In the absence of a more suitable vessel, and other risks involved in relation to the conditions and type of vessel, it was determined that this was the best course of action for all involved.

'I’m glad we could provide the assistance we did, and am proud of our crew who performed this long tow in difficult conditions.’