[A] volunteer crew from the RNLI’s Barrow station launched their inshore lifeboat early this morning, Thursday 11 May 2017, to assist a motor fishing vessel which had suffered a loss of power towards the northern end of Walney Channel.
The request to launch the Lifeboat came from HM Coastguard at Holyhead shortly before midnight. The information received was that a 27’ motor fishing vessel with two people on board had suffered engine failure. The crew on board the fishing vessel raised the alarm by mobile phone and gave the vessel’s position as being in Walney Channel east of the Walney Airfield.
The inshore lifeboat crew were paged and the Vision of Tamworth was launched at 12:08am. The lifeboat, with Dave Kell at the helm assisted by Paul Wilcock, was on the scene at 12:23am. The decision was made to take the vessel under tow and by 12:34am, the lifeboat commenced towing the vessel to Ferry pitching where it was moored safely at 1:15am.
High water was at 12:24am with a predicted height of 8.9 metres.
The Vision of Tamworth returned to the Lifeboat station at 1:35am where it was made ready for the next launch.
With warmer weather and lighter evenings, it is a timely reminder for everyone to “Respect the Water” and more information about this can be found at: www.respecthewater.com
