Overnight Rescue Mission for Stranded Fishing Vessel Near Isles of Scilly
On Sunday night, a fishing boat with six crew members onboard became stranded approximately 20 miles north of the Isles of Scilly, prompting a significant overnight rescue operation by Cornwall coastguard crews. The distress call was received around 10:30 PM, indicating that the vessel had suffered engine failure amid challenging weather conditions.
The St Mary’s RNLI, based on the Isles of Scilly, quickly mobilized their Severn Class lifeboat, ‘The Whiteheads,’ which arrived at the scene shortly after midnight on Monday, March 2. The rescue operation faced severe weather, with gales reaching force 7 to 8 and rough seas producing a five-meter swell. Given the hazardous conditions, the lifeboat crew determined that towing the stranded vessel to Newlyn, Cornwall, was the safest course of action.
Coordinated Efforts Amidst Adverse Weather
As the situation unfolded, Penlee RNLI and Falmouth Coastguard were also called into action. Under the command of Coxswain Patch Harvey, six RNLI volunteers departed Cornwall at 5:45 AM to assist in the rescue. They headed towards a designated meeting point northeast of Wolf Rock, a lighthouse located eight nautical miles southwest of Land’s End.
At 7:15 AM, the St Mary’s lifeboat transferred the tow to Penlee RNLI, which then began towing the fishing vessel back to Newlyn Harbour. The operation was not without its challenges; the rough seas and strong winds made the tow slow and uncomfortable for the crew. Despite these difficulties, Penlee successfully brought the vessel to shore by 11:15 AM.
The St Mary’s RNLI Lifeboat Station reported that another fishing vessel in the vicinity had offered assistance, but after consulting with the Coastguard, it was deemed too dangerous to proceed due to the weather conditions. Additionally, the bulk carrier Commander-K was asked to provide a lee for the stranded vessel to minimize rolling. A helicopter from Newquay, designated R924, was also deployed to monitor the situation from above while the lifeboat crews worked to ensure the safety of the stranded crew.
