The Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat crew responded to a call of a fishing vessel in distress on Wednesday evening (5th July).
Having been notified by the Irish Coast Guard, the emergency pagers went off at 19:07, alerting the crew to a situation 23 nautical miles southwest of Dunmore East. An 11m fishing vessel with three crew had encountered engine troubles, leaving them stranded at sea. The volunteer lifeboat crew immediately mobilised, and the all-weather Shannon class lifeboat, William and Agnes Wray, was quickly dispatched to the troubled vessel.
Conditions were favourable when the lifeboat initially set out from Dunmore East. However, as the evening progressed, the weather turned, with the wind increasing to gale force 6-7, accompanied by a moderate sea swell. Despite the challenging conditions, the RNLI crew pressed on to reach the stranded vessel.
Approximately 1.5 hours after the initial alert, the lifeboat arrived at the fishing vessel. The crew found the fishermen safe but immobilised due to mechanical failure.
Dunmore East RNLI coxswain, Roy Abrahamsson, commented on the situation: "These incidents highlight the unpredictable nature of the sea. Even the most experienced and well-prepared crews can encounter problems. We commend the crew for making the correct decision to call for assistance when their engine failed."
Upon assessment, the decision was made to take the fishing vessel on tow back to the safety of Dunmore East Harbour. Despite the challenging conditions, the homeward journey was carried out without incident, and the fishing vessel was safely moored in Dunmore East Harbour and the lifeboat was ready again for service at approximately 2 am.
