An Irish Naval Service vessel it is hoped to get a tow aboard a trawler stranded off the Cork coast with a crew of seven on board on Saturday morning.

The Wexford-registered trawler, Ellie Adhamh, lost power early on Friday morning 130km off the Bull Rock in west Cork while returning from a prawn fishing trip in the Porcupine Bank.

A major rescue operation was launched involving the Irish Coast Guard and the Naval Service and co-ordinated by the Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Valentia Island.

Force 4 westerly winds were whipping up big seas and a plan by a Bere Island tug, to go to assist the fishing vessel had to be abandoned after it was damaged by a large wave.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 from Shannon was then tasked to assist and proceeded to the scene but the captain and his crew opted to remain on the stricken fishing vessel.

Further reading reports The Irish Times.

Statement from the Coastguard issued at 12.30 on March 27 2021

Coast Guard co-ordinate rescue operation for trawler off Cork Coast

A fishing vessel that suffered a loss of power is being towed towards Bantry by the Naval ship LE George Bernard Shaw. The fishing vessel the ELLIE ADHAMH suffered a loss of power approximately 70 miles West of Bantry Bay on Friday morning and has been adrift .

The response is being coordinated by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination centre at Valentia who initially tasked a Coast Guard Helicopter to the scene. The crew declined an offer to have some of the crew evacuated from the vessel.

The situation was monitored overnight by Valentia with the LE George Bernard Shaw on scene from 9 pm last night. Weather conditions overnight were challenging but the crew are reported to be in good spirits. The Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat was also alerted and is monitoring the tow. A Coast Guard helicopter also transferred water pumps onto the vessel owing to the loss of power on the vessel.

Tow is proceeding satisfactorily and is expected to reach Bantry Bay later this evening where arrangements will be made to have the vessel taken into port.