Six crew rescued as boat runs aground

Six crew rescued as boat runs aground

30 October 2019

THE stricken fishing vessel which ran aground on rocks near Ardglass harbour should be removed within two weeks.

The lives of five crew were saved when Newcastle and Portaferry lifeboat crews responded to Mayday call in the early hours of last Wednesday.

The local coastguard rescue teams worked alongside Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 after the call for help was made at 5.15am.

The Cork-owned vessel began to drift towards Phennick Point outside Ardglass as it tried to dock to offload its catch of mackerel in poor weather.

The local lifeboat crews launched at 5.30am with Portaferry inshore lifeboat arriving half an hour later and the Newcastle all-weather lifeboat arriving at 6.25am, in rough seas with a maximum swell height of four metres.

A spokeswoman for Portaferry RNLI said that as the crews proceeded towards Ardglass, the fishing vessel struck rocks and had begun taking on water. 

She said: “When both lifeboats arrived on scene, a dynamic risk assessment was carried out and we liaised with the skipper of the stranded vessel to formulate a plan to try and save the vessel and its five crew.  At this point the vessel was pushed further onto rocks and took on more water. 

“Rescue 116 was scrambled and made its way to the scene with extra pumps. Meanwhile Newcastle RNLI, assisted by Portaferry RNLI, attempted to tow the vessel off the rocks, but due to worsening weather and tidal conditions, after numerous attempts it was decided by the Coxswain to evacuate the crew of the vessel. 

“Due to weather the decision was made to airlift the fishing crew by helicopter.”

Newcastle RNLI coxswain Nathan Leneghan said: “This rescue was a success due to multi-agency teamwork with our colleagues in the Irish coast guard, Portaferry and Newcastle coastguard teams and Portaferry RNLI. Thankfully this was positive outcome, and all five fishermen are safe and well at this time.”

The imminent removal of the damaged Dillon Owen boat was confirmed on Monday by Kevin Quigley, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority.

Mr Quigley said: “The salvage has not been finalised yet but we expect to be a position to remove it fairly quickly within the next fortnight.

“It will take very significant and large equipment to carry out the removal and it’s expected the boat will need to be lifted out.

“Unfortunately none of the boat’s mackerel catch was saved, but the men were and that’s the most important thing.”

Mr Quigley said that the incident was one of the worst seen at Ardglass over the last few years. It is feared that the 25-metre long vessel is beyond repair.

Local councillor Dermot Curran praised the rescue operation of the local lifeboat crews.

“This could have had a much worst outcome but thanks to the rescue operation and the calm work of those working as a team, five fishermen were taken off the boat to safety.

“The boat has been listing badly in the weather and lying in an acute angle, so I hope that it can be removed as soon as possible.”