An 85 foot fishing boat got into difficulties near the Kinsale Gas Rigs in the early hours of this morning.
THE Courtmacsherry all weather Trent Class RNLI Lifeboat Frederick Storey Cockburn was called out at 2.36 am this morning to go to the aid of an 85 foot fishing boat which sought assistance as it got into difficulties near the Kinsale Gas Rigs approximately 25 miles east of the Old Head of Kinsale.
Under Coxswain Sean O Farrell and a crew of six, the Lifeboat Crew was underway within 10 minutes under the cover of darkness and immediately made its way to the area of the casualty.
The distress alarm was raised by the fishing vessel with three crew on board when they fouled their propellers and became disabled while trawling in the area.
The Lifeboat located the casualty at 4.15 am and a tow rope was immediately attached in order to secure the fishing vessel in lumpy seas with a strong wind blowing 20 knots. The Lifeboat has proceeded to tow the large stricken boat at low speed back to the safe surrounds of Kinsale Harbour and is expected to arrive at 11.15am after being at sea for nearly nine hours.
The crew on board today call were Coxswain Sean O Farrell, Mechanic Chris Guy and crew members Denis Murphy, Simon Locke, Jim O Donnell, Conor Dullea and Dean Hennessey.
