A late-night maritime rescue operation was launched in the early hours of Friday after a razor boat with two fishermen reported water ingress and a total loss of power two miles east of Balbriggan.
The emergency call triggered a coordinated response involving the Clogherhead RNLI, Skerries RNLI, and the Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 116.
Clogherhead RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat Michael O’Brien launched at 12:59am under Coxswain Gerald Sharkey. The crew reached the scene by 1:23am to find the vessel had drifted four miles northeast of Balbriggan in challenging conditions — 30-knot south-westerly winds and a one-metre swell. The fishermen, although without a functioning VHF radio, were wearing lifejackets and had deployed their anchor.
Deeming the vessel unable to proceed safely, the lifeboat crew established a tow and brought the razor boat safely to Port Oriel, Clogherhead, where the Clogherhead Coast Guard was on hand to assist. The vessel berthed at 2:02am.
The lifeboat was recovered and readied for its next mission by 3:00am with assistance from shore crew members Brian Boylan, Andy McDonald, Eve Robertson, Caroline Stanley, Seamus McEvoy, and Kevin O’Rourke.
Coxswain Gerald Sharkey commended the fishermen’s actions: “When their vessel lost propulsion, they made the right decision to drop anchor and contact the Coast Guard for help.”
