Howth RNLI launched the all-weather lifeboat to rescue a fishing trawler with steering problems just off Skerries in North Dublin.
The RNLI pagers sounded at 3.02 am on Wednesday 30th December to reports of a fishing vessel in difficulty south-east of Skerries. The all-weather lifeboat was launched and located the stricken fishing vessel which had no steering and unable to manoeuvre.
The volunteer lifeboat crew took the fishing vessel in tow and brought the vessel to the safety of Skerries harbour.
The crew of the fishing vessel were in good spirits despite the mechanical failure.
The Howth Lifeboat and volunteer crew returned to Howth station and stood down at 5.45 am.
Speaking following the callout, Fred Connolly, Howth RNLI Lifeboat Coxswain said: ‘Our volunteer lifeboat crew are always ready to respond to a call for help even in the early hours and we train for situations just like this. We were delighted to be able to quickly locate the fishing vessel, commence the tow and bring the vessel safely back to Skerries’.