Scarborough and Bridlington lifeboats were launched on Friday to assist a 24-meter fishing vessel with four people on board after it suffered engine failure 23 nautical miles east of Scarborough Harbour.
The all-weather Shannon class lifeboat Frederick William Plaxton launched at 11:16am on Friday, 3 October, following a request from HM Coastguard. The 130-ton vessel had reported a critical mechanical failure, leaving it adrift and unable to anchor in deteriorating sea conditions.
Launching several hours before high water with a flooding tide, the Scarborough lifeboat faced moderate seas with a 1.5-meter swell, forecast to escalate rapidly to Force 9 winds and 4-meter waves due to Storm Amy. Upon locating the vessel, the crew determined that towing was the safest option given the fading light and worsening weather.
After assessing potential ports, the decision was made to tow the vessel toward the Humber to liaise with a commercial tug to take over the tow Scarborough Harbour was deemed too risky due to tidal constraints and the vessel’s 4-meter draft, which exceeded the predicted neap tide levels.
Scarborough RNLI towed the vessel 13 nautical miles southeast of Bridlington, where Bridlington RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched at 5:54pm and rendezvoused with the tow at 7:17pm. The tow was transferred to Bridlington RNLI, which attempted to continue toward Grimsby. However, gale-force winds and rough seas hindered progress.
Scarborough Lifeboat returned was washed down and ready for service at 11.50pm.
At 12:16am, Humber RNLI’s Pride of Humber lifeboat was tasked to assist. Additionally, the fishing vessel Nordstjernen, skippered by a Filey RNLI crew member and requested by the casualty vessel’s owners, took over the tow. Bridlington RNLI stood down and returned to station by 5:45am, refuelled, and was back on service by 7:37am.
Later that day, at 12:12pm on Saturday, HM Coastguard requested Bridlington RNLI to launch again. Nordstjernen reported no forward progress off Flamborough Head. Bridlington RNLI launched at 12:51pm and reached the vessels by 1:19pm, taking over the tow. Once the casualty vessel was safely anchored, the crew returned to station, arriving at 6:18pm and back on service by 7:30pm.
Scarborough RNLI Coxswain commented:
'The lifeboat launched swiftly and reached the casualty vessel in under an hour. The weather was extremely rough due to Storm Amy.” The volunteer crew preformed extremely well in very difficult conditions, all the training that crew undertake really pays of in situations like this. Working with flanking stations is also practiced on a regular basis, this showed on that night.'
'The Station would like to send our its thanks to all the vessels that responded and assisted during these conditions.'
The RNLI reminds all seafarers:
“Mechanical failure is the single biggest cause of rescue call-outs to sailing and motor cruisers, accounting for nearly 20% of all RNLI lifeboat launches. If you get into difficulty at sea, always call the Coastguard on VHF Channel 16 or dial 999.”
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