10-05-2025
Huge trawler boat gets stranded off coast at Fishguard
The 160 ton fishing vessel - five times the weight of the St Davids Tamar-class lifeboat, the Norah Wortley – called for assistance on Wednesday evening, May 7.
The 25-metre vessel had lost all propulsion around 12 nautical miles north west of Strumble Head.
The lifeboat launched at 6.45pm, and at the scene, coxswain Will Chant and crew carried out a thorough risk assessment of the large vessel.
The slow tow took around four and a half hours. (Image: RNLI St Davids lifeboat)
It was decided that the lifeboat would take the trawler under tow as the sea conditions were favourable, no other vessels were in the area to offer a tow and the trawler was posing a navigation hazard.
A slow tow began, taking around four and a half hours to complete.
Once off the Fishguard harbour breakwater, the trawler was brought into an alongside tow to put it against the quay wall at Fishguard.
The trawler had broken down some 12 nautical miles off Strumble Head. (Image: RNLI St Davids lifeboat)
This proved ineffective due to the size of the trawler, so a short astern tow was carried out and it was successfully placed alongside the quay wall with assistance from some of the Fishguard lifeboat shore crew.
Will Chant, RNLI St Davids Coxswain, said: "Due to the size of the trawler, weighing almost 130 ton more than the lifeboat itself, this was a long slow tow that proved demanding when trying to ensure the safe berth at Fishguard harbour.
"The rescue highlights the tremendous abilities of both the Tamar class lifeboat and our dedicated crew when challenged."
Norah Wortley and volunteer crew left Fishguard harbour at approximately 1am yesterday, Thursday May 8, and rehoused back at St Davids lifeboat station around 2am.
