Newcastle lifeboat launches to help stricken local trawler

Newcastle lifeboat launches to help stricken local trawler

27 March 2013

NEWCASTLE lifeboat carried out a lengthy towing operation after being called to the aid of a stranded fishing vessel last week.

The station’s all-weather rescue craft, Eleanor and Bryant Girling, was called to give assistance following a request from the Coastguard to help a trawler whose propellers had been fouled by fishing nets.

The Orlanda, manned by a crew of four, was left drifting without power 18 miles south east of Newcastle after the propellers became entangled.

The Newcastle boat was launched shortly after 7pm last Monday night and took the Orlanda in tow after reaching the scene.

Following a lengthy towing operation the trawler was taken safely to Ardglass harbour and the lifeboat returned to Newcastle at 1.10am on Tuesday morning.

Newcastle’s volunteer lifeboat crew will be swapping their survival suits and lifejackets for buckets and sponges this weekend to help raise funds for the RNLI’s vital sea rescue service.

Every year at Easter the crew take a break from their busy training schedule to stage a fundraising car wash outside the lifeboat station at the town’s harbour and this year the event is being held on Saturday, March 30, from 11am until 4pm.

The RNLI is a registered charity and its crew members give up their time voluntarily to train and take part in essential rescue work. It currently costs around £385,000 every day to maintain the network of lifeboat stations around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.

The hard-working men and women at Newcastle station are hoping as many people as possible will come along and support their car wash this Saturday. The suggested donation for having your vehicle cleaned by the team is £4.

And even as they’re washing cars, all those taking part in Saturday’s fundraiser will still be on call for any emergency that might happen at sea and ready to launch the lifeboat at a moment’s notice.