#RNLI - Arklow RNLI assisted four people after their vessel suffered engine failure on Sunday (2 August) during the Wicklow town's maritime festival.
Pagers sounded during the busiest part of the Arklow Maritime Festival and just prior to a rescue exercise with a local pleasure craft and as the blessing of the Arklow fishing fleet was coming to a conclusion.
The lifeboat crew had been making ready to launch the Ger Tigchlearr to assist in completion of the blessing ceremony and also to take part in a display exercise involving the local fire service, the Irish Coast Guard and a local pleasure craft.
Within a couple of minutes, the lifeboat was en route through a very busy Arklow Harbour and down the river to locate the distressed vessel.
The stricken vessel was located just south of the harbour, close in on South Beach. The vessel, with four people on board, had suffered machinery failure, was adrift and in danger of going aground.
- crew quickly established a tow line and proceeded to tow the vessel back in to a packed Arklow Harbour at the height of the maritime festival weekend, with large crowds in attendance at the quayside.
Naval Service vessel LE Ciara was also in attendance, and her commanding officer launched a RIB which also proceeded to scene and offered assistance.
Following the incident, Arklow RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Mark Corcoran said it "shows the importance of multi-agency interactions during search and rescue operations".