Volunteer crew called out twice in less than 24 hours to help bring the fishing boat to safety
A fishing boat that had lost its power saw volunteers of Bridlington RNLI called to its aid twice in the space of less than 24 hours and all while Storm Amy was raging. At 5pm on Friday, October 3, HM Coastguard called the volunteer crew to the stricken fishing vessel that was 13 nautical miles south-east of Bridlington.
The Scarborough RNLI all-weather boat (ALB), Frederick William Plaxton was already in attendance, after being tasked by HM Coastguard shortly before noon, to assist the fishing vessel that was originally 23 nautical miles from Scarborough. The volunteers of Scarborough RNLI took the casualty vessel under tow, with the intention of moving it to a place of safety.
However, after over five hours of towing with increasing wind and sea conditions, which quickly became incredibly rough, the call was made for Bridlington RNLI to launch and assist Scarborough Lifeboat with the tow. Bridlington ALB Anthony Patrick Jones launched at 5.54pm into the pounding surf.
The lifeboat made steady progress in gale force winds and rough seas, until reaching the two vessels at 7.17pm, when a decision was made between the Scarborough and Bridlington coxswains to transfer the tow to the Bridlington ALB. With the casualty vessel now under tow, the Bridlington ALB then attempted to head for Grimsby.
Due to incredibly difficult seas, gale force winds and towing a 24m vessel with a gross tonnage of 130 tonnes, the volunteer crew could only manage 2.8 nautical knots per hour.
After attempting to tow the fishing boat and making some progress in the increasing wind and incredibly rough seas, the Humber RNLI ALB Pride of Humber was tasked at 0.16am.
Also called out to assist was a tug boat that was requested by the casualty vessel owners, to tow the stricken vessel to Scarborough. With the tug taking over the full tow, the Bridlington ALB was stood down and made its way back to Bridlington and was back on the beach at 5.45am, recovered, refuelled, and placed back on service by 7.37am.
At 12.12pm on Saturday, October 4, a second call was received from the HM Coastguard, requesting the volunteer crew of the Bridlington RNLI to launch once again. The tug from the previous tasking requested assistance as both the tug and the original casualty vessel were making no forward progress off Flamborough Head.
By 12.51pm the Bridlington ALB had been launched and made best speed in a freshening wind and choppy sea to reach the casualties by 1.19pm. The Bridlington RNLI volunteers took the fishing vessel under tow.
Once the casualty vessel had been towed to a safe area, it dropped anchor and the Bridlington crew were stood down. The lifeboat made its way back to Bridlington, reaching the beach at 6.18pm where it was once again recovered, washed down, refuelled and was back on service at 7.30pm.
Andy Rodgers, Bridlington RNLI volunteer and coxswain, said: “This was a challenging tasking for both the Scarborough and Bridlington crews. I would like to thank all the crew members for their commitment and dedication this weekend in what were very testing North Sea conditions.
“Also, can I add a big thank you for the assistance of the vessel who assisted with the tow.”