Fishing boats give RNLI a demanding day

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The bad weather on Wednesday 4 April resulted in three fishing boats getting into difficulty and requiring RNLI assistance.

Fishguard RNLI lifeboat. Credit: RNLI

Two of the commercial fishing boats were attended by Fishguard RNLI all-weather lifeboat, Blue Peter VII.

EuroClydon
The most serious incident was when the 18m whelker EuroClydon from Teignmouth, with three Latvian crew aboard, broke away from its mooring in Fishguard harbour and was pushed onto the rocks of the eastern breakwater by the gale force 10 north easterly winds and severe swell.

The all-weather RNLI lifeboat sped to the scene just after 11am but with a dropping tide, was unable to get close enough to put a towline onto the stricken vessel. Fortunately the commercial rigid inflatable boat, Cariad M was also on scene and was able to pull the fishing boat off the rocks and into deeper water to enable the all-weather lifeboat to take over the tow in what were extremely demanding conditions with winds gusting to force 11/12.

At this stage, the fishing boat was being towed from its stern and had suffered damage to its steering whilst on the rocks. Once in clear water the tow was moved to the whelker's bow and despite the steering difficulties and with the aid of Cariad M the stricken boat was brought alongside the multicat barge Megan M operated by Garelochhead Support Services, where it was established that the whelker was taking on water.

The RNLI all-weather lifeboat then transferred a pump to assist in pumping the boat's bilges. The lifeboat stood by until it was established that the leak had been stemmed and the vessel's own bilge pumps could handle the situation.

Pisces
Earlier in the morning the all-weather lifeboat launched at 8.05am to go to the assistance of the small scalloper Pisces which had dragged her mooring and was rapidly heading for the same breakwater.

Fortunately RNLI volunteer Chris Bean, at his workplace aboard Megan M, saw the dilemma and boarded the drifting vessel, entered the wheelhouse and fired up her engine just as the fishing boat was about to hit the breakwater.

Under the escort of the lifeboat, the scalloper was brought to the Megan M and moored to her stern.

Jay C
Even earlier the same morning, the large red scalloper Jay C also broke her mooring and was carried by the gale force winds onto the rocks below the Convent at the eastern end of Goodwick beach. No crew were aboard. Salvage operations to re-float her commenced once the tide receded.

Coxswain Paul Butler said: “We had multiple and simultaneous tasks to deal with and with the assistance of Cariad M helmed by Chris Bean, we were able to bring all these incidents to satisfactory conclusions. It has been a very challenging day for all of all our volunteers.”