RNLI lifeboat launched to fishing vessel
Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat was launched at 20.40 on Wednesday 30 November to an Irish registered fishing vessel taking on water approximately 20 miles south east of Ballycotton.
Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat and the Waterford based Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 117, were requested to launch to lend assistance.
With winds blowing up to force 8 in Ballycotton the RNLI lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, with its volunteer crew, slipped her moorings at 20:45 and headed towards the fishing vessel's reported position.
The four-man crew of the fishing vessel were keeping the water intake under control with buckets and steamed their fishing boat towards the oncoming lifeboat. Conditions in the area were poor, with high winds, rough seas and squally showers.
At 21:40 the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat arrived on scene with Rescue 117 arriving shortly thereafter. The emergency services stood by the fishing vessel while it headed towards Ballycotton harbour under its own power.
Rescue 117 returned to base having updated themselves on the situation and the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat escorted the fishing vessel for the remainder of the journey.
The fishing vessel arrived in Ballycotton at 23.00 and an RNLI salvage pump was placed aboard to extract the excess water. The crew offered their thanks to the emergency services for the assistance given.
