#RNLI - Arranmore RNLI's lifeboat crew responded to their third callout in a week early yesterday (Friday 18 August) to assist a fishing trawler with five people on board which got into difficulty after engine failure.
The fishing vessel, which left Killybegs in the early hours, was not long after stranded 10 miles north-west of Glen Head in Co Donegal. The Arranmore lifeboat launched at 3.30am and reached the casualty vessel at 5am.
Weather conditions at the time were challenging, with a two-metre swell and west south-west winds of Force 5-7.
Having reached the trawler in darkness, the lifeboat managed to get a rope on board to tow the vessel to Killybegs harbour, though progress was hindered as the rope broke several times due to the weight of the vessel and the high sea swell.
After a slow nine-hour tow, the fishing boat was finally safely berthed at Killybegs and the lifeboat returned to base at 6pm, a full 14 hours and 30 minutes after launch.
Arranmore RNLI coxswain Jimmy Early paid tribute to the crew of the fishing vessel.
“They were a very experienced fishing crew and knew exactly what was required to bring them safely ashore. Now it's bedtime, hopefully.”